Hunters and Hybrids

Chapter 13

After a few moments Callen became aware of the audience he and Anna had, he drew away, his eyes being the last thing to leave her face as he looked towards the others.

He eyed the members of his team, well, the mortal ones anyway warily, his hand reaching down to grasp Anna's, not wanting to lose contact with her and pulling her slightly behind him in a unconscious protective gesture.

"Sam?" Callen turned to him, taking what Sam noticed was a protective step back as he took in his partner and the other mortal teams members gathering closer to him.

Sam smiled, "We're ok G. You're my partner, my brother."

"Our friend." Eric said.

"Our family." Kensi said.

"Our Pack." Deeks said, stepping towards him, "We all know Callen and it doesn't matter."

Callen blinked, if asked he would have said in surprise, but Sam smiled slightly as he knew this had touched his partner greatly.

"You don't care, even though I'm a fr...not mortal?" Callen said quickly correcting himself.

"We know you. We trust you and nothing will convince us that you are not good enough for us to be pack with you." Sam stated.

Springtime moved closer to Callen, "You still want to come with me?" She asked with a smile.

Callen tightened his hold on Anna, "Thank you, but I think... I think it's going to be alright."

Arkady walked up to Springtime, "My lady, you honor us with your presence, again." He bowed deeply.

Springtime smiled, "I will do what I can to help friends of my child." She moved to one side, "Time, I need to talk to you." She said as she glided across the grass.

Tim moved away to talk to her as Anna pulled Callen towards the others.

Sam moved forward and pulled Callen into a hug, "You're gonna be ok G."

Sam smirked as he noticed his partner hadn't let go of Anna's hand yet.

"She's the one then?" Sam asked.

Callen nodded, "I'm a wolf Sam, we mate for life."

"About time. Michelle will be thrilled."

"Does she know about me?" Callen asked worried.

Sam smiled, "Yeah, I showed her a video of you as a wolf, she's cool with it a bit shocked at first, but Hetty explained it all to her, she wants to know if Kamran can look after you after school for a month before we get her a dog."

Deeks laughed as he overheard the conversation, "Yeah, and Monty will go on a play date with you in the woods sometime."

Callen couldn't help himself and he laughed.

"I may, take you up on that, being pampered by Kamran? Sure!"

He smiled at his team and for the first time the smile met his eyes.

Anna wrapped her arm through Callen's and whispered in his ear.

"Now?" He asked.

She nodded, "They are pack are they not?"

"But what if I..." He looked over at Springtime who had just walked back over to them, Tim smiling as he held his mother's arm. Anna walked over and spoke quietly to Springtime, keeping her eyes low in respect.

Springtime looked over at Callen and gestured him to come closer.

"Time, please give us a moment child."

Tim walked over to the others, "I take it Callen is staying and has finally accepted that he is Pack?"

Arkady nodded, "I do not know what your mother showed him, but he is staying and has accepted my Anna as Mate."

"He said so?" Tim asked surprised.

"No, but I am not blind," Arkady nodded towards the couple as they stood by Springtime.

The ancient elemental had her hands on the heads of both Callen and Anna talking in low tones the couple bowed their heads grinning at each other.

Springtime moved her hands as the couple stepped back and turned to go to the others.

Arkady walked over to his daughter and wrapped his arms around her. "Congratulations my dear." Then he did the same to Callen, "Welcome to the pack moy syn."

Sam looked confused as Hetty smiled and walked over to hug the couple. "What just happened."

"I think, they got married?" Tim said, staring in awe at his mother.

"No!" Kensi breathed in surprise looking over at them as Callen bent down to hug Hetty.

"G?" Sam walked over to him, "Did you get married?"

Callen laughed, "Something like that... We..." He looked over at Anna, who nodded, "We just got blessed and bonded. Don't worry Sam, I will be having a wedding as you know it."

Sam let out a small chuckle, "Good, coz if Michelle were to find out she had missed that she would kick both our asses."

"I would never dream of doing it without her," Callen replied.

"Also, I would like to ask if your Kamran could be my bridesmaid." Anna said and smiled as Callen squeezed her hand in approval.

"Springtime told us we were a good match and that we will be blessed." Callen smiled shyly, "She said... She said I have the perfect Pack and that we are destined for great things."

Tim nodded at that, that was what his mother had talked to him about. There was a change coming in the Ne'er, a time when all, Ne'er worlders and Mortals would live as one. Tim knew he would be instrumental in bringing balance to the Ne'er. Callen and the Kolcheck Pack would be important in uniting the Ne'er and the Mortal world. This was, in Tim's mind a good start.

Again Anna whispered to Callen who this time nodded.

"Guys... er... I gotta...." He nodded in the direction of the wood.

"Callen," Gibbs said to him, "We are all pack, don't feel ashamed about doing what you need to, if you need to change and run, then do so. No one here is going to judge you."

For the first time in his life Callen didn't feel ashamed of changing, he wasn't worried that someone would see, he grinned from ear to ear as he turned and shifted in front of everyone.

Callen turned back, his clothes in shreds on the floor and he yipped happily wagging his tail as Anna shifted and joined him happily joining him in some rough and tumble, rolling around on the grass before they both shot a look of, what was to Sam's mind pure happiness and they headed into the woods.

Gibbs' phone beeped, he looked at the message and sighed, "Well, we need to head back, we have work to do. But I think I will be seeing you all again soon."

"You're not waiting for him to come back?" Sam asked.

Gibbs smiled, "I don't think he'll be back for a while, I'll leave him a message on his phone like I normally do. Don't worry Callen understands."

Gibbs, McGee and DiNozzo bid their farewells, Arkady making sure he had a contact number for the Agent who was now family and grinning like a lunatic when Tim thanked him for his help and declared he owed him one for his help.

Sam had walked up to him just after that, "Do you know what you've just done?" He asked amusement on his face.

"Yep. Arkady will be bragging about it for a long time, but when I need the support of his pack in the future, he will help. It's called politics Sam, it's as useful in the Ne'er as it is in the Mortal Realm."

Sam shook his hand, "It was great to see you again, Gibbs said you'd be back soon though?"

"Of course, the wedding we wouldn't miss it." Tim said.

"You're sure G will marry her?" Sam said, a little bit of doubt creeping into his voice after all Callen was a lone wolf.

Tim nodded, "Yep, my mother is never wrong about these things."