Chapter Four

When Alec had asked if he wanted to do this as a wolf or a man, Magnus’ instincts said wolf because if it came down to a fight, he’d be better equipped to protect himself and Alec should the need arise. Now, however, he was regretting the decision as his wolf was screaming at him to turn tail and run away. 

 

As soon as his paws hit the pavement outside the church, he could tell that something was very, very wrong. His wolf was whining at him, telling him that if he couldn’t leave, then he needed to protect his pack. He pressed himself to Alec’s side and felt a hand start to massage the fur around his neck. He knew his partner was right. Whatever they were about to find inside, they’d face together. 

 

Inside the church, the smell of brimstone burned Magnus’ sensitive nose and he tried his best not to sneeze. His senses told him that they were alone in the upper part of the church but he knew that Alec and his siblings still needed to check before they made their descent. The stairs and hallway leading to the basement were narrow but Magnus still refused to leave his partner’s side. The closer they got, the stronger his need to protect Alec got and he barely noticed that he’d begun to growl as they reached their destination. 

 

Magnus froze at the sight. Inside the room were the creatures they’d been looking for, locked in cages far too small for their large bodies. They were howling like they were possessed, throwing themselves against the fortified metal bars as they tried to reach the intruders. Memories flashed through Magnus’ mind - ones that he had desperately tried to bury hoping to never think of them again. His heart started to beat rapidly and he tried to fight the urge to turn and run and remove himself from the situation. A whine escaped his throat and his mind was racing too much to really even care.

 

He should be better than this, he knew. What good Institute agent panicked and froze at the sight of something that happened years ago? How could he do his job when he couldn’t even walk into the fucking room because the sight of doglike creatures in cages triggered his own bad memories?

 

“Magnus?” Alec’s voice came from beside him and the concerned but gentle grip in the fur on the back of his neck slingshotted Magnus back to the present. “Are you alright?”

 

A whine escaped his throat. He needed to tell Alec, he realized, though in this form there was no way that he could speak the words that so desperately needed to be said. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t be here when it was so similar to a position he himself had been in before. He pressed himself closer to Alec’s side as his heart continued to pound loudly in his ears. 

 

“Magnus,” Alec said a little louder though his voice was still soft and concerned. “It’s alright. They’re still in cages. They can’t hurt us like this.”

 

That was precisely the problem, Magnus thought to himself, wishing the shift was quicker so he could vocalize that to his partner. They were still in cages like Magnus himself had been for so long all those years ago. All he could do was whine again. 

 

“Why don’t you two get some air?” Isabelle suggested lightly, though Magnus barely heard her words. “Jace and I will get some pictures and then…call this in? Someone is going to need to do something about this but…what the hell do you do with three demons?”

 

Alec exchanged a few more words with his siblings before Magnus felt a gentle tug on his collar. “Come on, Magnus. Let’s go outside.”

 

Magnus felt like he was letting Alec down by not being able to stay in that room but he feared that if he did, he’d end up in one of those cages himself and that was something he hoped he would never have to experience again. His partner said nothing until they were outside. “Do you want to change back?” He asked, and even anxious and terrified Magnus could hear (and smell) Alec’s concern. “Your bag is in the backseat. I’m not sure where you could shift around here but I’m sure we could find somewhere secluded around the back.”

 

Alec deserved an explanation but Magnus was running on his instincts right now and shifting was the last thing he wanted to do. He shook his head. “Alright, that’s fine. Do you want me to call someone? Luke maybe?”

 

Yes, Magnus thought to himself, please. He was certain his Alpha could already feel Magnus’ panic through the packbonds and was probably waiting for Magnus’ call. He’d been the one to bring Magnus back to himself when Magnus had first escaped. His Alpha would keep him safe again. He dipped his head slightly and gave his partner a weak whine. “Alright, let’s get you in the car though. No sense waiting out here and drawing attention to ourselves. Besides, there’s air conditioning in the Charger.”

 

Alec opened the door for him and then reached across to start the car. Once the engine was running and Magnus had hopped into the backseat, he shut the door and stepped away, no doubt to call Luke and explain the situation. If Magnus had tried, he could have listened in - no phone calls were private when you had werewolf hearing - but Magnus found that he simply didn’t care. 

 

He was weak. He’d let Alec down. He’d been faced with demons in cages and his own past betrayed him. He needed to tell his partner that he was a liability. How could the man trust him if Magnus couldn’t suck it up and be the agent that he needed to be? Alec deserved better than this, better than him. Magnus knew he was broken but he’d wrongly assumed that his past was in the past and that he’d moved on. Oh, he’d been wrong. So very, very wrong.

 

Magnus had laid down in the backseat and had his head on his paws. He was surprised when the back door opened and Alec slid inside next to him. “Make some room,” he ordered playfully. “You’re too big and I need at least a little bit of space here.”

 

At Alec’s insistence, Magnus curled himself into a ball, trying to give his partner as much space as he could. There were a few minutes of silence before Magnus felt a hand start scratching behind his ears. “Is this alright?” He asked softly and Magnus put his head in Alec’s lap in response. Yes, that was more than alright. 

 

Magnus closed his eyes, Alec’s presence and soft scratching, quickly calming his thundering heart. “You know, I had a little brother. Another one, not Jace. He was younger than Izzy by a few years. His name was Max.”

 

There was sadness in Alec’s voice that broke Magnus’ heart. “One summer when I was ten, we took a family outing on my father’s boat. Izzy was about seven at the time, Max had just turned four. Jace wasn’t even with us until the year after. We were having a good time but in the blink of an eye, Max tumbled over the side. I tried to jump in after him but my mother stopped me. She went instead and by the time she reached him and my father had turned the boat around it was too late. They tried to revive him but he’d already taken on too much water. We got to shore and called the paramedics, but there was nothing that they could do. Max’s death broke our family. Mom and Dad’s relationship was never the same after that.”

 

He wasn’t sure why Alec was sharing something so personal with him. There was a few seconds of silence before his partner spoke again. “To this day, I can’t even look at a boat without getting anxious. I won’t step foot on one again. It’s okay to feel fear, Magnus. We all have things that get to us. I don’t think any less of you for what happened in there. I’m just sorry that you had to see it. I should have gone in first.”

 

Magnus wanted to tell Alec that his reaction wasn’t his fault but in this form, there was no way for him to get his point across. Instead, they sat in silence - Magnus’ eyes closed as Alec gently scratched behind his ears until his heightened hearing picked up the sound of a familiar car turning down the road. Alec turned his head, “That’ll be Luke,” he explained, even though it was a bit unnecessary. “It looks like he brought Raphael with him too.”

 

That much didn’t surprise Magnus in the slightest. Luke was practical. If he thought there was a chance that he’d need to take Magnus with him, he wasn’t going to leave Alec and his siblings high and dry. Even if they couldn’t have the wolf they brought with them, they’d still have one of them and, honestly, Raphael was probably the best choice, Magnus had to admit.

 

The door opened and Luke knelt down outside the car. “Hey kiddo,” he said, talking directly to Magnus and choosing to ignore the sight of the wolf’s muzzle on his partner’s lap as the agent pet him. “I hear you had a bit of a rough day.”

 

He gestured toward the house and Alec slid out from under Magnus’ chin. “Raphael, do you mind staying with Magnus for a few minutes while I show Luke what we’re dealing with?”

 

The grumpy wolf nodded his head and Magnus listened to the sound of their footsteps as they walked away. “I’ll grab your bag and we’ll get you in Luke’s car. You’re not staying, I am.”

 

Despite how short his tone was, Magnus could tell through the pack bonds that the other wolf was truly concerned about him. He pushed himself to his paws and jumped out of the car. There was another ungodly shriek from inside the house and the other wolf’s eyes widened. 

 

Raphael opened the passenger door of Luke’s car for Magnus and he jumped inside. “Whatever is going on in that head of yours, stop it. I know you’re worrying about something and it’s not the demons inside. Whatever worst-case scenario you’re making up right now, it isn’t true. I was in the room with Luke when he got the call from Lightwood. He doesn’t care that you had a panic attack. He’s worried about you, you big buffoon.”

 

It was then that Luke and Alec left the building. They talked quietly on the front porch for another moment, too far for Magnus’ ears to pick up on what they were saying, before Luke motioned to Raphael. “Don’t worry,” he heard his Alpha say to his partner as the other wolf joined them. “He’s in good hands. You focus on dealing with the mess that you have here. I don’t envy you at all, Alec. Keep me updated though, if you need any backup from the pack, I’m only a phone call away.” He paused, glancing briefly in Magnus’ direction before adding “And if you can’t get me, try calling Ragnor.”

 

He shook Alec’s hand before joining Magnus in the car. He waited until they were around the corner before he glanced down at the younger wolf. “I saw what was in that basement. You haven’t given too many details about what happened to you but with the state I found you in, I can take a pretty good guess. I’m guessing it was similar and hit a little bit too close to home?”

 

Luke knew he couldn’t respond but his Alpha had the benefit of both the pack bonds and being able to understand canine movement. Magnus flattened his ears and gave a small whine. Hitting too close to home was putting it lightly but no, what happened to Magnus had been much, much worse. 

 

He sunk into the seat, ignoring the passing scenery until the car slowed to a stop. His nose picked up on the scent of pine and he cocked his head. Luke raised an eyebrow in response. “You think I’m taking you back while you’re still worked up? No, we’re going for a run to work out the rest of your fear and anxiety and then we’ll head back to the Institute.”

 

The older wolf helped Magnus out of the car and he looked around. This wasn’t the typical pack hunting grounds they came to at the full moon but it was secluded and quiet and Luke had probably chosen it specifically for that reason. His Alpha undressed, folding his clothes neatly on the front seat of his car before Magnus felt him pull on the pack bonds, using the strength and numbers of his pack to help him shift quickly. Instead of the brutal fifteen-minute transition, he was a man one minute and a wolf the next. 

 

As a wolf, Luke was nearly twice the size Magnus was in his four-footed form though Magnus knew he was considered small for his kind. What he lacked in raw strength, he made up for in speed, however, and there were few who could keep up with him when he was in a dead run. Luke, as a wolf, was mottled shades of brown, to Magnus’ solid black. He licked Magnus’ snout twice before he bowed, his tail wagging slowly behind him. Magnus huffed at his Alpha, knowing what he was trying to do but Luke just smiled back, his tongue lolling out of his mouth. He waited for a moment to be certain he had Magnus’ attention before he turned tail and ran into the woods. 

 

Magnus had no choice but to follow.

 

----------

 

Alec watched as Luke’s car disappeared around the corner. “He’s going to be okay?” He asked Raphael, despite having been told as much by Luke moments before. 

 

“He’ll be fine,” Raphael replied as he raised an eyebrow. “Magnus has been through a lot — more than most people have…but he’s tough. He’ll power through.”

 

He wanted to ask more questions and try to figure out if there was something that he could have done better when the howling started up again. The wolf’s eyes narrowed and he muttered something under his breath. “Any plans for how you intend to deal with that yet?”

 

Alec sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “No. There’s not exactly a protocol on what to do or who to call when you discover three hellhounds in cages in the basement of an abandoned church. Hell, we don’t even have a protocol for demons in general but I imagine something this big is really going to make a splash. I should probably skip all the red tape and go straight to Jia. I know she’ll want to be informed before anything else happens.”

 

Raphael, practical as always, tipped his head. “I’ll go see if your siblings need any help then, Lightwood.” He disappeared into the church before Alec could say another word. 

 

Protocol would say that Alec needed to call his direct supervisor, Hodge, to report his discovery and then Hodge, in turn, would push that knowledge further up the food chain. However, that would take time — time they didn’t have — which is why Alec was going to skip a few steps and go straight to the top. He took out his phone and found Jia’s name, hitting the dial button before he could start to second-guess himself. “Mr. Lightwood,” she said after only a single ring. “To what do I owe the pleasure? I take it this is about the Runecarver case?”

 

“Yes and no,” Alec answered quickly. “I don’t believe we’re any closer to catching the Runecarver but he has discovered something…something that I think you are going to want to know about sooner rather than later.”

 

“Continue.”

 

Alec bit his lip, choosing his next words carefully so he didn’t sound completely unhinged. “The last scene we discovered was a bit different from the others.” He paused, knowing the next sentence would be the one to make or break his statement. “We have evidence to suggest the Runecarver was trying to summon a demon and that he may have been successful. With that knowledge, we were keeping our eyes open for anything unusual. Simon uncovered a 9-1-1 call this morning. It seemed like a simple noise complaint — simple enough that the NYPD didn’t send anyone to investigate.”

 

“But?” Jia asked and almost as if on cue, the howling started again. “What in Heaven’s name is that?”

 

“That is what I’m calling about. To make a long story short, we’ve discovered hellhounds or at least that’s what we’re calling them.”

 

Alec held his breath when Jia didn’t immediately respond. “Hellhounds,” she said finally.

 

“I know it sounds ridiculous but I don’t know how else to describe canine-like creatures that look like they are made of molten lava. Honestly, I’m not sure how those cages are keeping them contained and not just melting. I’ll send you a picture,” Alec explained as he attached the photo he’d taken on his phone when he had taken Luke downstairs to show him what they were dealing with.

 

There was a moment of silence before he heard her inhale sharply. “I…see.”

 

“Yeah, so Jace and Izzy are downstairs. Magnus had to leave but I’ve got Raphael with me. I think we’re going to clear the block and tape it off but outside of that, I have no idea what we’re going to do here. Do we try to dispatch these things?”

 

“If we can safely find a way to transport them, that’s probably ideal. If these are demons, we should take the opportunity to study them in the event this isn’t a one-time thing.” He could hear Jia shuffling around papers on her desk, no doubt getting ready to send in the troops. “Continue with your plan, Mr. Lightwood. I’ll send you some reinforcements and get in contact with the NYPD to see if we can get some assistance with crowd control. I want to see this for myself — no one makes any further decisions until I’m on site.”

 

“Understood,” Alec replied before the line went dead. He pocketed his phone and headed back inside. “I spoke with Jia,” he said to his siblings once he was back in the basement of the church. “Reinforcements are on their way. She wants us to clear the area and wait for further instructions. She’s coming herself — she wants to see these creatures with her own two eyes before any decision is made about what to do with them.”

 

One of the hellhounds threw itself against the bars of its cage and Alec jumped. “Come on, let’s get going. Maybe they’ll be less agitated if we’re not in the room.”

 

Half an hour later, Alec was standing on the stoop as he watched Jia’s car pull up. True to her word, the area was now swarming with both NYPD officers and Institute agents. At the end of the street, curious neighbors were trying to figure out what the fuss was about. He was certain that it was only a matter of time before the news vans arrived as well, desperate for the latest story and hopeful that they beat their competitors to the punch. The increase of activity outside caught the attention of the creatures inside. The howling was louder now and more aggressive and the sound hadn’t ceased since the first police car arrived on scene. 

 

Hodge had arrived with Jia and Alec could tell by his boss’ expression that he wasn’t happy that Alec had skipped straight to the top. “Sir, Ma’am,” he said as they climbed the stairs to join him. “We’ve kept things as quiet as we can but the NYPD are beginning to ask questions. With the crowd that’s started to gather, I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before something leaks to the public.”

 

“I’ve got Aline drafting a statement as we speak,” Jia replied. “Now, show me the source of our troubles today.”

 

Alec led them inside and down the stairs, noticing that Hodge’s expression seemed to darken the closer they got to the room. He nodded at Jace as they passed and his brother stepped to the side to let them into the room. Alec knew what to expect so he focused on the reaction of his boss and their director. Jia’s eyes widened in shock but Hodge seemed to remain nonplussed. 

 

“Well, you sent me pictures but they certainly didn’t do the creatures justice,” the woman said finally, her eyes focused on three rattling cages. “And my God, what is that smell?”

 

“Sulphur,” Alec answered. “Magnus picked it up at the crime scene as well. “And ash. The last site had claw marks gouged into the concrete. They were too big and too deep to be a normal dog and they didn’t quite match a werewolf’s either but looking at the size of those paws I think we’ve found our source. 

 

“I’m surprised the cages are holding,” the woman muttered, taking a tentative step closer. 

 

“As are we. Isabelle’s best guess is that the fire…lava, whatever it is that they seem to be made of, isn't actually as hot as it seems to be. I’d also expect this room to be unbearably hot and it isn’t. Hotter than normal, sure, but this is more like a desert heat not like the ninth circle of hell.”

 

“The ninth circle of hell is made of ice,” Hodge replied idly. It was the first words that he’d spoken since he and Jia had arrived at the abandoned church. “It would be cold, not hot.”

 

It was an offhand comment that Alec chose to ignore. “Any idea what you want to do with them? Should we call a priest or something? Hell, would a priest be able to do anything? Can you do an exorcism when it’s not a possession?”

 

“I’m not certain bringing civilians in at this point is ideal.”

 

“Get some technicians in here to take some temperature readings and see if there’s a way we can safely get a sample of whatever it is they seem to be oozing. I want to make sure the steel those cages are made out of isn’t in any danger of melting during transport. We need to figure out the best way to get these cages out of this room and into a truck without working the public into too much of a frenzy. We need people to understand that we’re in control of the situation and that they have nothing to worry about.” She sighed and turned back toward the door. “First werewolves, now living, breathing demons. Whatever will be thrown our way next?”

 

The three of them headed back upstairs and Hodge, with Jia’s insistence, jogged off in the direction of the waiting technicians to get them started. “Mr. Lightwood, just a moment of your valuable time if you don’t mind. Hodge has brought it to my attention that you’re asking for certain exceptions to be made in our regulations in lieu of your investigation.”

 

Alec’s eyes widened, he hadn’t expected a response to his request so quickly. “Uh yeah. I was hoping that Magnus could get a pass on needing permission to leave Institute grounds. This case is moving pretty rapidly and that extra few minutes could make or break it.”

 

“While it is rather unorthodox, given today’s discovery I’m willing to grant your request for the duration of the case. Please don’t make me regret it.” With that, she turned on her heel and headed toward the police captain so they could begin to coordinate their efforts. 

 

He’d have to update Magnus when they got back to the Institute. Right now, he had a hellhound to deal with.

 

----------

 

Magnus had woken up the next day surrounded by the furry forms of his packmates. Luke’s idea of the run through the forest had, in fact, done wonders for Magnus’ anxiety but it hadn’t quite been enough to get him fully in the right frame of mind. The pack took care of its own and Catarina had taken one look at how Magnus slunk into the Den with his tail between his legs before she insisted the rest of the pack shift as well. Even Raphael, when he’d returned much, much later that evening, took one look at the pile of bodies and had quickly joined them. 

 

He untangled himself from the mass and padded quietly into the other room. Shifting back to human was hard this close to the full moon and he could feel the pull of it under his bones. In any other situation, he would have stayed a wolf and saved himself from a second more painful shift later that night. However, he knew Alec deserved an explanation about what happened the day before and he intended to give him one. 

 

By the time he’d shifted and managed to make himself presentable, the rest of the pack had dispersed to get ready for their own days. Magnus’ first stop was Luke’s office, knowing that he’d need to speak with his Alpha before he could even think of tackling the conversation with his partner. 

 

Luke’s door was open and he looked up at Magnus’ arrival. “Magnus, good to see you on two feet today.”

 

“I wanted to say thank you for yesterday. I wasn’t exactly at my best and I became a burden for both you and Alexander.’

 

“You aren’t a burden, Magnus, and I don’t know how many times I’m going to have to tell you that before it finally makes it into that thick skull of yours,” the older wolf joked. “And I wouldn’t worry about being a burden on Alec, that boy was worried sick about you and didn’t know what he could do to help. He’s already been by this morning asking how you are. I’m supposed to send you to the War Room if you’re up for it. I told him I wasn’t sure if you would shift back with the full moon tonight.”

 

“I didn’t want to,” Magnus admitted. “And I know tonight’s shift is going to be more painful because of it but Alexander deserves an explanation.”

 

Luke raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to tell him then?” The other wolf asked, knowing how close-lipped about what had happened to him in the past.

 

“Yes…No, I don’t know,” Magnus replied with a sigh. “He deserves to know why I reacted the way I did. I’m a liability. Who's to say I won’t react the same way if I happen to find myself in that situation again?”

 

“Son, that boy doesn’t think that at all but I know that you won’t believe me until you go and talk to him yourself,” he nodded his head toward the door. “Now go, get out of here. Are you still planning on riding with us to the Hunting Ground later this afternoon?”

 

Magnus nodded. “That’s the plan.”

 

“Good, now go. I’ll see you later.” 

 

Magnus didn’t need to be told twice. 

 

He found Alec exactly where Luke had told him he would be — in the War Room, adding the pictures that they took the prior day to the whiteboard with the rest of their crime scene photos. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything?” Magnus said after a moment of watching the muscles flex in Alec’s arms as he reached across the table to grab another photo and tape it to the board.

 

Alec spun sharply and a grin spread across his face. “Magnus! How are you feeling today? Better I hope?”

 

Alec’s voice sounded so sincere that Magnus couldn’t help but return his smile. “Much better, thank you. Luke took me for a run after he picked me up. I didn’t mean to freak out on you. I owe you an explanation.”

 

His partner’s face twisted into a small frown. “You don’t have to tell me, Magnus. It’s okay to have secrets.”

 

Alec’s voice was soft and his words carefully chosen and it broke Magnus’ heart that he was walking on eggshells around him because of what happened back at the church. 

 

“I…I need to,” Magnus replied, knowing that he spoke the truth but wishing that he didn’t have to. ‘You need to understand. You need to know why I think you should ask Luke and Hodge to find you someone else. Raphael might be a good pick. I know he comes off as grumpy but he’s reliable and he does care about people more than he lets on.”

 

“I don’t want anyone else, Magnus” Alec replied, his brow furrowed in obvious confusion over Magnus’ words. “You’re my partner, not Raphael. Besides, I think Raphael and I got enough of each other yesterday. He’s a good agent, I’ll give him that, but he’s not you.”

 

Magnus said nothing for a few moments — trying to gather his thoughts before he started to speak. “I’m sure that you probably looked at my file when we were first assigned to each other but I’ve never opened it myself. I don’t know how much of my story is written in those pages. Do you know how one becomes a werewolf, Alexander?”

 

Alec cocked his head slightly to the side and Magnus knew he was both considering the question and trying to follow his train of thought. “Of course I do. Everyone does — you’re bitten by another wolf.”

 

“Not just bitten — one must be mauled almost to the point of death. If you survive, and if the poison doesn’t kill you, then you become a wolf. Do…do you know how I became what I am today?”

 

His partner shook his head. Part of Magnus had hoped that the other man had read it — it would have made this entire situation so much easier to explain. He sighed and dropped onto the end of the couch on one side of the room, letting his head fall to his hands. He felt the cushion dip as Alec took a seat next to him, close enough that he could feel his presence but far enough that he was still trying to give Magnus his space. “My father is…he’s not a good man. In fact, he’s a downright criminal. He should be in jail but every time he’s been arrested, he gets off without charges — I guess an under-the-table payment to a dirty cop or a shady judge goes a long way.”

 

“He wanted me to be a part of his business but I never wanted to follow in those footsteps. At sixteen years old, I ran away from home after making it abundantly clear that that life was not for me. I hitch-hiked across the country, trying to put as much distance between the two of us as I could. It was stupid and dangerous but homelessness and potentially being murdered was actually preferable to my father finding me and trying to force me to be the son that he always wanted me to be.”

 

“I’m sorry that you had to go through that,” Alec said quietly, reaching over to give Magnus’ knee a light squeeze. “No child should feel like living on the streets is better than living at home.”

 

“It could be worse,” Magnus replied with a sad smile. “It can always get worse.” He lifted his hand to rub at his eyes, well aware that he was probably smudging his makeup. If he now looked like a raccoon, Alec said nothing. “It…it did get worse even as I thought it was getting better.”

 

He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, remembering the moment that he’d first spotted Camille in that bar all those years ago. She was…enchanting. Alluring. She took Magnus’ breath away from the very first minute. He’d fallen under her spell. He had loved her with his heart and he had thought that she loved him back. He wanted to marry her one day - he’d even started looking for a ring. 

 

“There…was a woman I was seeing. Her name was Camille and I wanted to marry her. I thought she loved me too…it turns out, she only loved the money my father was paying her to spy on me. But he had more plans…darker plans. He needed her to do something more than simply relay details of my life to him. My father wanted me back, desperately, but he needed to make me both more useful to him and to ensure my obedience.”

 

Alec scooted closer and wrapped an arm around Magnus’ shoulders. It was that simple, comforting move that gave him the strength that he needed to continue. “I don’t know how he found out that she was a wolf — the wolves weren’t out to the public at the time. One day she came home — I’d planned a romantic dinner. Roses, candlelight, expensive wine…I pulled out all the stops. I went to greet her when I heard her close the door but…there was something about her eyes. Something that wasn’t her…I realized too quickly that something was off. Maybe if I’d been faster, I would have saved myself.”

 

“She turned you,” Alec whispered softly and Magnus felt his own body begin to tremble at the memory. 

 

“She did. She nearly killed me and there are still days that I wish she had. Most wolves can’t change that quickly. To this day, I still have no idea where she pulled the power from. Her shift was almost immediate and the last thing I remember seeing was her teeth going for my throat. Then…nothing. I was floating. There was darkness and cold and pain, so much pain. When I opened my eyes again everything was different — the world was suddenly so much more and I was scared and alone.”

 

He swallowed again and forced himself to continue. “I came to inside of a cage. My father was staring down at me with a look of disgust on his face. I tried to beg him to help me but I couldn’t form the words. I attempted to sit up but my body no longer moved the way I was used to. I hadn’t realized what had happened yet.” He paused for a beat before he continued. “Do you know the first thing I remember him saying?”

 

Alec shook his head, there would have been no way for him to know. Magnus hadn’t been expecting an answer anyway. “He turned to someone behind him and said ‘He’s kind of small, isn’t he? What good is a runt to me?”

 

His partner inhaled sharply and Magnus could practically smell the anger that was coming off of him. “It was Camille, of course. I later found that not only was she spying on me for him, he paid her to turn me. He figured that he could train a dog into being loyal and once he did, he’d have a ferocious beast on the end of his leash. And who would mess with him then? He could walk into any meeting and just terrify people into doing what he wanted. My only use to him now was as the monster he hoped that I would be.”

 

“Magnus—” Alec started. 

 

He stopped him with a finger to his lips. “No, please. Let me finish. If I have to stop, I won’t be able to start again.” He took another deep breath, trying to put his thoughts back in order before he continued. “He kept me in that cage for nearly six months. He starved me hoping that my desperation would make me more obedient. When that didn’t work, he tried to torture me into submission. That entire time, I was half out of my mind with terror and pain. I had no idea who I was, what I was, when my chance to get away came, I almost didn’t take it.”

 

“What happened? How did you get away?”

 

“He sent one of his goons to feed me. Not a lot, mind you, but enough that I was in no danger of dying. He thought I was too weak to move but when he unlocked the door, he let it swing open a little too wide. That’s when I made my move. I lunged…I didn’t kill him. Murder was never my intention but my wolf just wanted to get to safety. So that’s what we did. I ran…and ran and ran. I didn’t know where I was going, I just knew that I needed to get far, far away. That’s when Luke found me.”

 

“He told me once that you were like a son to him,” Alec replied when Magnus took a breath. 

 

He nodded. “I was lucky that he was the one who found me. I was a danger not only to myself but to everyone around me. I was nothing but fear and fangs and fur in the beginning but Luke…Luke was patient. He taught me everything I know about being a wolf. By all rights, he should have put me down. Any other Alpha would have. He reminded me what it was to be human and slowly and surely I remember who I was. When that happened, he taught me how to shift back and how to live with everything that I’d suddenly become. Luke eventually introduced me to the rest of the pack and once he was comfortable that I wasn’t going to lose control, I decided to apply to the Institute. I became Magnus Bane once more. Well, a new and different version of Magnus Bane.”

 

Magnus stared at his hands, afraid to glance sideways to see what Alec’s reaction was now that he realized that his partner had actually been created to be nothing more than a monster. What he didn’t expect is for Alec to slide off the couch, drop to his knees, and pull him into a tight hug. “Magnus, I am so sorry that you had to go through that. No one should have to experience what you did. Your father and Camille…did you ever press charges? Were they ever arrested for the abuse and torture that they put you through?”

 

“No,” he replied softly, the tension slowly leaving his body even as his confusion over Alec’s reaction continued to grow. “No, they didn’t. I couldn’t exactly go to the police and tell them that my father had my ex-girlfriend turn me into a werewolf. At the time, I wasn’t in the best frame of mind and just getting through that and out to the other side was more of a priority. It’s been years now and neither my father nor Camille have tried to come after me. Either they think that I’m dead or they no longer want anything to do with me. Whatever it is, I’d prefer to keep out of sight, out of mind.”

 

He felt Alec stiffen and he pulled back with a frown. He could smell the fury radiating off his partner even if Alec’s face didn’t show it. “What did I—” he started, trying to rack his brain for what he’d done or said to elicit this sort of response from the other man. 

 

“Magnus, I’m not mad at you. I’m mad that you never got retribution for what happened to you. What you experienced…was horrifying. I would like nothing more for your father and your ex to feel the pain that they caused you tenfold. They deserved to be punished.”

 

“It’s in the past,” Magnus replied with a shrug. “Besides, a monster, no matter how he got that way, doesn’t deserve justice. Who in their right mind would think that?”

 

Alec growled. The sound that escaped his throat startled Magnus. If he hadn’t known better, he would have guessed that his partner was the one who was the wolf. “You are the farthest thing from a monster and your pain is valid. At the very least, you deserve to see your abusers behind bars.”

 

Magnus blinked, trying to process Alec’s words. The last remnants of tension left his body. He told Alec his darker secret and the other man…didn’t hate him? “I didn’t tell you because I was looking for sympathy…I wanted you to understand why I froze back there. When I saw those hellhounds in those cages…”

 

“You remembered what it was like to be in that position yourself,” Alec finished for him. Magnus merely nodded. “I’m sorry that you had to see that.”

 

“It’s not your fault. Neither of us knew what to expect in that room. I’m just sorry that I couldn’t be there to support you. That happened so long ago that I didn’t expect it would affect me so deeply.”

 

“You have no reason to be sorry. Honestly, the sight rattled me a little bit too. It was a very, very long night for me.”

 

“And I should have been by your side throughout all of that. Why don’t you tell me everything that I missed?”

 

Alec pushed himself off the couch and strolled across the room, back to the board he’d been next to when Magnus had entered. “Oh, before I forget. I was talking to Clary and she was filling me into some rules and regulations regarding wolves that I’ve previously been blind to. I didn’t realize that you needed permission to leave the Institute grounds. While I find that wildly inappropriate because I don’t need permission to leave, it’s not the right time to fight that battle. I did, however, speak to Jia and she’s agreed to waive that restriction while we’re working the case.” Alec blushed and dipped his head in a way that Magnus found adorable. “I hope you don’t mind. I probably should have asked you if that’s something that you wanted instead of just taking it upon myself to ask but…”

 

At this point, Alec was rambling and would continue to ramble unless Magnus stopped him. He grabbed the other man’s arm and gave it a squeeze. “Alec, it’s alright. I appreciate that you thought of me and it will be helpful to skip the red tape. Fifteen minutes could really make a difference in the long run.”

 

His partner was visibly relieved that Magnus wasn’t upset. “Yeah,” he said after a moment. “My thoughts exactly!” A grin spread across Alec’s face and Magnus’s heart warmed at the sight.

 

“What ended up happening to the creatures, by the way?” Magnus asked, his eyes drifting over Alec’s shoulder to the pictures taped on the board. “I assume they didn’t escape from the cages and begin terrorizing the city?”

 

“No, nothing of the sort. We ended up transferring them here. We’re just sort of flying by the seat of our pants here.” Alec huffed out a laugh. “Demons. I still can’t believe it.”

 

“It is rather remarkable,” Magnus agreed. “Were you and the team able to keep this quiet or is the world now dealing with the existence of both hellhounds and werewolves?”

 

“We tried to keep it quiet but you heard the sounds the creatures were making. We tried to cover the cages as we wheeled them to the truck but there’s only so much that we can do when the hellhounds seem to be made of actual fire.”

 

Magnus hummed and tapped a finger against his chin. “I’m sure the press is having an absolute field day.”

 

Alec groaned. “I haven’t looked yet. I have very specifically been trying to avoid it. I don’t envy Aline or Jia right now.”

 

“Before my unfortunate departure yesterday, I did pick up on some things. You probably already know this given the situation but my nose tells me the hellhounds were definitely the source of the sulfur scent at the last crime scene.”

 

His partner nodded his head. “I figured as much. My nose might not be as good as yours but it was kind of hard not to notice. Look at the size of those paws. You said it would have to be something larger than a werewolf or an average dog.”

 

“I would not want to be on the receiving end of those. Or those fangs for that matter,” Magnus muttered, running his fingers over one of the photos taking in all the details. “Would it be possible for me to see them?”

 

Alec hesitated for a moment before nodding his head. “It’s not pretty,” he said slowly. “They aren’t in the cages anymore but they are still contained. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

 

“I appreciate your concern, Alexander,” Magnus said, giving the man a soft smile. “The scene at the church simply took me by surprise. I know what to expect now.”

 

“Alright, if you’re sure…but if at any point you feel uncomfortable, let me know and we’ll head right back up here. Hodge has a mountain of paperwork that he wants us to complete,” Alec said with a groan. “I started but…I think it’s going to take the both of us. He told me that it must be finished before you head off with Luke tonight.”

 

“A quick peek at the hellhounds and then we’ll dive right in, I promise.”

 

----------

 

They’d spent about thirty minutes in the observation room getting a closer look at the hellhounds before Magnus decided he’d had enough. They’d stopped to grab something to eat before heading back to the War Room to take a stab at the nearly literal mountain of paperwork that Hodge had assigned. They’d been at it for hours already and Alec had lost track of time ages ago when a knock sounded from the doorway and pulled him back to the present. 

 

“Nearly full moon time, Magnus,” Luke said as he leaned against the door jam. “You about ready to head out? Everyone’s waiting for you.”

 

Magnus glanced down at his stack of papers and then back toward his Alpha. “Hodge wanted this finished before I left,” he said with a sigh. 

 

“I’m sure he’ll understand. The full moon is not something that’s avoidable.”

 

His partner shook his head. “I’ve got to finish this. It’s not fair to Alec that he gets in trouble for something I didn’t do. I’ll stay here. We’ll be done by midnight, I’m certain, I’ll spend the rest of the night in the secure room.”

 

Luke frowned and Alec could see the worry plain as day on his face. “You don’t like the secure room,” he said cautiously. 

 

“No, I don’t,” Magnus agreed. “It scares the daylights out of me but it’s the best option I’ve got right now. You need to get to the hunting grounds. I’m sure the others have already started to arrive. You can’t afford to wait any longer. I’m a big boy, Luke. I’m sure I can handle one night in the secure room without an issue.”

 

Alec wasn’t certain what the secure room was but the thought of Magnus doing something that scared him for the mere sake of paperwork was something that he couldn’t handle. “You can go, Magnus. It’s fine…I’ll explain everything to Hodge.”

 

“No, Alexander, I won’t leave you to this alone,” Magnus insisted. 

 

His face twisted into a frown as he glanced between his partner and Luke. “Then how about a compromise?” He suggested. “Luke can head out now. We’ll finish this up as quickly as we can and I can drive you to the hunting grounds.”

 

“While I appreciate your offer, Alec, it’s a bit of a haul,” Luke stated. “About an hour each way.”

 

“I don’t mind,” Alec said before either of the wolves had a chance to argue with him. “Truly, I don’t. It’s not like I’ve got anything better to do. If I go right home, I’m just going to be watching National Geographic. A nice drive might be a good change of pace. And we can review the case in the car.”

 

“If you’re sure,” the Alpha said before turning his attention to the other wolf. “Magnus? How does that sound?”

 

A grin spread across Magnus’ face. “A true gentleman, Alexander. How can I say no to an offer like that?”

 

----------

 

It was just under two hours before the paperwork was complete and submitted and Alec breathed a sigh of relief. “I never want to go through that again.”

 

“Agreed,” Magnus said, standing up and stretching. He winced and Alec was instantly on edge. 

 

“Is everything alright?” He asked, worried.

 

“Yes, I’m fine. The closer we get to nightfall, the more my skin starts to itch. I can feel the change that’s about to happen.” 

 

“Well then, we best get going. Is there anything you need? I want to grab my other set of keys from my desk. Something tells me we’re going to be doing a bit of off-roading and I don’t want to test the Charger’s capacity to handle mud and grass. We’ll take my personal vehicle.”

 

“I’ve got a bag packed with a change of clothes,” Magnus explained. “Slightly different from my Go bag. I just need to grab it from the Den and I’ll be good to go. How about you get the keys and I’ll meet you in the deck in ten minutes?”

 

“Sounds like a plan.”

 

Alec was ready in five minutes and lingered by the door to the parking deck while he waited for his partner, realizing that Magnus had no idea what his personal vehicle looked like since they’d only ever taken his Institute-issued car. 

 

“I hope you haven’t been waiting long?” Magnus asked as he appeared in the hallway with a backpack slung over his shoulder.

 

“Not long at all,” Alec said, nodding his head toward the direction of his Discovery. “It’s this way, come on. I think if we leave now and make good time, we’ll get there right after sunset.”

 

----------

 

Alec pulled up in an open field full of parked cars in neat rows. “Ah,” Magnus said as Alec’s vehicle came to a stop. “It seems I’m the last to arrive though it does look like Luke hung around to make sure I actually showed up tonight.” He nodded his head toward where his Alpha was waiting, sitting in the bed of an old red pickup truck that Alec didn’t recognize. 

 

“Who do all these cars belong to?” He asked as they got out of the vehicle and began to walk toward Luke.

 

“The rest of the pack,” Magnus said simply. “You didn’t think our entire pack was just the four of us who work at the Institute did you?”

 

Before Alec could respond, Luke joined them. “Alec, thank you for offering to bring Magnus up here. I’m sure a nice run through the forest is more preferable than a night in the secure room.”

 

“Not a problem. Any time. I assume you two want to get going?” He asked as he handed Magnus his backpack.

 

“The moon is almost up. I’ll see you tomorrow?” Magnus said with a smile. 

 

“I look forward to it,” Alec agreed as he turned back toward his car. He glanced once more over his shoulder, taking in the sight of the two wolves walking toward the treeline before he got in and started the drive back home.