*****

"You hear that man?" The younger man asked.

"Yeah, but its better not to get involved." The older man, Doug, pointed out, and took a deep breath. "Can you smell them. Dead beasts?"

"Yeah, but there something else, I gotta." Without finishing his sentence the smaller man took off running toward the scent that was driving him.

Doug hesitated a moment, and whispered under his breath, "Damn it, Jason's not going to like this." Then he took off after the younger man.

It took Doug a block and half to catch up to his friend, and was shocked as he witnessed his friend taking on three dead beasts though he smelled the dust of another. He spared a quick glance at the two bodies sprawled out on the ground both alive, one more so than the other, before he gave his full attention to the attack his friend was waging. As he dived into the battle diverting attention to himself another was dusted and they only had two of the beasties left. Doug, attacked and ripped off the head of one, and turned back in time to see his friend slamming a stake into the beastie's heart before it was dusted.

"And will I ever hear the story behind you carrying a stake?" Doug watched as his friend turned to the injured men slumped on the ground. One was knocked out cold, but he could smell that he'd be ok; it was the other one that smelled of the beasties. He was the reason there were four of them. Doug knelt down beside he's friend, and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"We gotta help him, bring him back with us. Matthew could help him." Oz mumbled still dazed by the crumbled form before him.

"That's a no go Oz man, you can't bring either one back to the pack, but especially not him." Doug answered.

"Why the hell not? It's not like we haven't helped people before." Oz fired back.

"Oz, he's not people, he's marked. They both are and they'd only attract more of them. You know vamps and were's don't mix. No, its not going to happen Jason won't allow it. Beside the only way to cover up their scent is for us to mark them." Doug leaned down further and sniffed closer to the man Oz held. "This one is heavily marked, no only a mating mark might cover, or hide the scent, but even still, no it won't work. Look over half of those bites are old, and he's still alive. He's their thrall. It's best to just let them be. Besides it's almost sunrise they'll be safe enough until night."

"And then what? They're right back where they started. No, I can't let that happen."

"Oz, what's the deal? You know them or something?"

"Yeah, or something. Will you help me get them over to a motel?"

"You can be serious?"

"Doug either you help me, or I'll do it by myself, either way I'm not leaving them."

"Fine, but we're not done talking about this." Doug leaned down to haul the other man up, and followed Oz to the motel.

At Motel 6

Doug reached down and unlocked the door. He had gone and registered while Oz watched over the still unconscious men. Each pulled and carried a man inside and laid them down on the bed. "Ok, they're safe now; off the street. Can we go now before Jason sends out a search party?"

"You mentioned marking them would cover up the scent?" Oz inquired.

"No way man, you can't even think it." Doug was horrified by the look Oz was giving the beasts thrall.

"Oz, please, Jason won't allow it. This will give Jason the best excuse to ban you from the pack, and no one could argue the point. I mean marking a beastie thrall it's unheard of. Can't you at least explain why? Why you'd choose them over ." Doug started to stumble over his words as he looked at Oz. "Over the pack? Because that's what you're doing Oz."

Oz looked up at his tortured friend trying to convey what he was feeling. "I'm sorry, but I have to do this. It's Jason's pack now, one that I was never a part of anyway."

It was the true but it didn't hurt any less. "What about Nicky?"

Oz couldn't answer him, but tried to focus on the man lying in the bed. "He needs help, and I can't turn my back. I know some people who could help both of them, but I've got to get them there first. Marking them is their best chance of survival." Oz turned and looked Doug straight in the eyes so he'd understand that he made his choice. "I'm prepared to take the risks, I have to."

Doug whimpered low in his chest and moved toward Oz and nuzzled his neck. Oz felt the tears, felt his brother's sorrow, his lost. Oz reached up and lightly pulled the taller man down as he licked away his tears. Then nipped at his neck as he inhaled deeply imprinting his scent to memory. Doug lightly pulled away knowing he had to go, and started to back away. As he reached the door he turned to ask, "Will you take them to your witch?" Doug saw the slight nod, and nodded himself in answer before he quietly left the room.

Oz took in a deep breath taking in Doug's smell that lingered in the room and the scent of the pack. Making the choice to stay here to help Riley had cost him dearly, but Riley risked his life to save him against the initiative, he couldn't do any less in return.

Looking down at Riley, Oz knew he'd have to mark both men, but Riley he'd have to mark as a mate, to claim him. He had stop thinking about mates after leaving Sunnydale and Willow behind when she chose Tara over him.

Oz looked over at the other man when he heard a moan, he was coming to. Oz eased Riley down and walked to the bathroom to get the man some water.

"Whattttt?" He tried to push himself up as he slowly opened his eyes, and tried to focus at the body next to him. "Ri, . Ri, answer me? You ok? . Ri?"

"Here, have some of this." Oz held the glass up to the man.

The man refused the glass instead he tried to talk to Riley, "He'll be ok, come on drink this." Oz placed the glass in his hand.

After taking a couple of sips he downed the glass in one shot before asking, "Thank you, who are you?"

"I could ask you the same, but I already know you're one of Riley's initiative men." Oz waited to see if the man would be able to place him. It took him a couple of minutes, but his eyes widen when he recognized the man standing before him.

"You're a hostile." Graham instinctively tried to back away.

"And you were playing tag with a bunch of ordinary guys earlier?" Oz snapped back.

Graham had the grace to turn away and then focused his gaze on man laying past out next to him. Then softly asked, "You saved us. Why?"

"Luck, I was lucky in finding you both, but it won't last. More will come tonight---your scent will drive them." Oz watched as the man checked Riley out. "He'll be fine, like you until tonight. Do you understand what's going to happen? What would have happened if I didn't find you?"

"Yeah, better than you think." Graham replied.

"What happened? Riley wasn't like this in Sunnydale." The man tried to avoid eye contact, but Oz wouldn't have it and placed his hand under the man's chin forcing him to look up. "Talk to me, what happened?"

"I didn't know about it when we left Sunnydale. We were in black ops deep in the jungle when he started to show signs. At first I thought he got mixed up in drugs. It wasn't until I followed him one night that I discovered his real addiction. Now neither of us." He trailed off closing his eyes, and took a deep breath ragged breath before he continued, "Now we never have to look for them, they smell us, taunt us, make us beg for it. I don't know how long we can go on, but the pull the drive.And Riley, I can't leave him, not now. I." Graham looked down and fiddled with the torn hem of his shirt.

Graham looked back up to Oz, "What are you going to do?"

Oz signed rubbing his hands over his face before he faced Graham again, "Help"

Both looked over as Riley moved slightly with each showing concern etched in their features.

"What can you do?" Oz didn't miss the slight condescending way the larger man said it, and smiled at the fact.

`Strength rarely has anything to do with size. Thought you would have learned when you met Buffy."

At the mention of the slayer's name Graham realized that's where he must have met him, but still couldn't recall. Then asked, "You know Buffy, the slayer, who are you?"

"Yeah, name's Oz. I left Sunnydale just before the whole Adam deal, but I got a taste of the initiative's pet projects. I think we're going to need Buffy's help." "And you're?" Oz politely asked.

"Graham, Graham Miller."

Oz nodded already thinking about how they'd get to Sunnydale, and smirked when he realized that they'd have to drive. "Nothing like a non stop 3000 mile drive in two-three days."

"We'll never make it without them coming after us. Like you said our smell." Graham looked back toward Riley, knowing the smell was stronger on Riley then himself, but he could never leave Ri behind he loved him and would stay by his side and fight.

Oz took a deep breath then plunged in, "They won't not if I mark you. Both of you."

"Mark us? What the hell does that mean? It's bad enough we're the walking dead's snacks, now you want to mark us! What are you?" Graham practically spat out as his eyes narrowed even further into small gray slates.

"Graham calm down man, it's the only way to cover up the thrall scent, especially with Riley. He won't survive much longer and you know it." Oz rubbed the back of his neck in frustration. "I'm sorry, but if you don't agree to be marked I can't, I won't stay and watch the end, and Riley won't make it till the end of the week."

Graham knew what Oz was telling him was true; Riley only lasted this long because of him. "What will this mark mean? Will it stop-will it stop the cravings?"

Oz crouched down slowly moving forward as he started sniffing Graham trying to decipher how strong the marks were. He knew he had no choice with Riley he'd have to claim him as a mate just to get him to Sunnydale alive, but Graham's marks weren't as deep. Oz finally decided it was possible to just cover him with his scent in order to make it to Willow's safely. But as he sniffed he also realized Graham loved Riley, and would never agree to let Oz mate with him and him alone. Oz briefly considered telling Graham the truth, but he knew with the influence of being a thrall would cloud Graham's mind. No his best bet would be to get both of them to Sunnydale as quickly and safely as possible. Then hopefully Willow would be able to reverse the mating effects with Riley, or at least allow Oz to live safely without him. But he knew that if he mated with both of them he'd never be able to live without them-his beast wouldn't allow it, especially after leaving the pack.

Graham cleared his throat bringing Oz back to their situation. "Arhmm, well do you think it'll stop?"

"I can't say for sure, but it should reduce the pull enough for us to get you both to Sunnydale.'

"Why Sunnydale?" Graham almost whined the last, "Couldn't we go somewhere else?"

"No, we need Willow and Giles in this. Plus they're the only ones I trust with the magic."

Graham pressed his lips together then took another long look at Riley before he nodded his consent. "What do I do?"

Oz signed in relief not even realizing he had been holding his breath though he still had to explain what he had yet to do. "I'll have to mark you as mine; with my scent so vampires and demons alike will know you're mine. They'll have to fight me to get to you, or Riley."

"How could you.." Graham questioned realizing he didn't know how the smaller man got them away from several vamps.

"Werewolf. I was one of your Hostiles remember?" Oz arched a brow as the man contemplated his choices.

"Oh, so our choices are vamp snacks, or werewolf snacks?"

"You won't be snacks, I'll be making you part of my pack." Oz paused trying to convey the right words and feelings, but time was running short. He needed to mark them then get on the road. "Marking you as family."

Graham nodded knowing he'd rather be a werewolf's family member than vamps dinner.

"Ready?" Graham didn't say anything just nodded again as Oz leaned in closer and started lick his neck.

Graham hated that he couldn't control his reaction as he arched his body into Oz giving he complete access. After being a thrall for a number of months all veins had become erogenous zones, but especially his neck. The impulse was building as his body took over wanting, needing more.

Oz started making little nips in-between licking, and couldn't help but enjoy the whimpering sounds Graham was making. Oz moved up licking his face bathing it with his saliva trying to cover every inch before he moved back down Graham's body pulling his shirt open as he did. Oz ignored the bite marks on each nipple, and just latched on to nipple pulling, caressing, and laving each one until they were swimming in his saliva. As Oz moved downward undoing first Graham's pants then his own without stopping the task of thoroughly laving every inch before him. Pulling his pants down Oz noticed more bite marks most were already healed over only a few were crusted taking longer to heal. Oz gently swiped his tongue over each encrusted area allowing extra saliva to drip into wounds knowing it would heal them.

Even with Oz's slightest touch Graham started to moan and beg to be bitten. The addiction, excitement, the pull of being a thrall kicked in as Graham lost control in his now baser needs. The need to spiral, to be consumed, to be needed, to give life all pulsed within Graham as he urged Oz on.

Oz knew he had to hurry Graham's un-abandoned reaction was driving him wild with his own need. The pheromones he was giving off were calling directly to his beast, and if he let his beast be in control he'd be mated to both of them within the hour. No, he couldn't let that happen, they were being controlled from the affects of being a thrall. They didn't know him much less like him, or want him. No matter what he was starting to feel.

Oz took one last lick of one of the bite marks, and straddled himself over Graham. Oz looked at the angry purple head of Graham's cock before grabbing it, feeling the texture, the size, the way it pulsed in his hand, Graham's heady scent, and the smooth slickness of his pre-come. Oz was close it had to be now. Oz grabbed his own cock and started with long steady strokes knowing he didn't have long. As he increased his tempo Graham thrashed beneath him screaming his ecstasy, begging for him to bite him. Oz soon realized though he was out of control Graham wouldn't be able to come without being bitten. Oz knew he couldn't use the beast's teeth without claiming him as a mate. Without further thought Oz reach back toward one of the healing encrusted wounds, and using his blunt teeth bit down re-opening the wound as he licked away the blood.

Graham howled his satisfaction as came all over his chest. Oz howled in acceptance as he reached up pumping hard on his own cock until he was covering Graham's jism with his own on his chest, and face marking the man as his.

Oz watched as the man's breathing came down to normal, and knew he was fast asleep; then reached up and nuzzled his face in the crook of Graham's neck as he whispered, "Mine." After several deep breaths of imprinting his scent Oz turned toward the other man laying next to them fully clothed as he did so he whispered, "Guess you're next Riley."

*****
tbc