Chapter Text
Werewolves had always served in their own units in the military. With the need for people increasing with the war, that fell by the wayside. The 101st Airborne was one of many divisions that was now integrated.
Not every company warmed to the idea as well as Easy Company had. But then again, none of them had quite the same experience that they had. Dealing with the likes of Sobol had been their first major test and it had bonded them all - wolf or human, they had all started to become pack.
Nix sighed in sympathy as Dick recounted his tale of how Sobol botched their training exercise. “Well, what are you gonna do?”
“Just keep training the men.” There wasn’t anything Dick could do and they both knew it.
Their attention was drawn to the door as someone walked in. “Am I interrupting?”
“No, no…” Dick waved it off, introducing Nix to one of their new officers, Harry Welsh.
“So you’ve already met our esteemed Alpha,” Nix mused. “Whaddaya think?”
Harry’s brows rose, looking from Nix to Dick. “Alpha?” Dick barely hid his amused grin, sending Nix a look to behave which the man quickly ignored. “I didn’t know you were wolf.”
Dick shrugged. It was Nix that answered, “He gets that a lot.” It was true enough though. Dick wasn’t exactly the type of person someone looked at and immediately suspected of being a werewolf - wolves like Guarnere, Toye, and Liebgott, sure, but not Dick.
“And you just do that to watch everyone freak out,” Dick chastised gently.
“So,” Harry ventured carefully, “you’re Easy’s Alpha?”
“That’s right.”
“And you didn’t say anything because?”
Dick gave him an easy smile. “Didn’t seem relevant at the time. Besides, you’re not a wolf. My being Alpha doesn’t mean much to you.”
“Unless you need to scold one of the unruly pups,” Nix teased.
Harry shook his head with a chuckle, tension easing out of him. “It’s a valid point. It’s good to know who the other wolves in the company answer to.”
Dick thought about it a moment before nodding. “I suppose you’re right.” Harry was the first newcomer to the company since they’d all started at Toccoa. Anyone unused to being around them would no doubt wonder the same thing, especially officers.
Sobol was their company commander but he was human. Werewolves had their own hierarchy. They may have had to answer to Sobol per military regulation, but the one they would truly follow would always be their Alpha. For Easy Company, that was Dick.
Even the high strung wolves like Liebgott and Guarnere had eventually acknowledged Dick as their Alpha. Nix had watched the whole thing with amusement. Simply because he was the highest ranking wolf in the company hadn’t meant the others had rolled over and allowed Dick to be their Alpha. Dick had to earn it just like every pack Alpha did.
“Well, Alpha ,” Harry replied. “If there’s anything special I need to know… They didn’t exactly teach us much about wolves in the 82nd and-”
Harry cut himself off as Sobol walked in. It appeared it was time to leave the States behind.
* * *
When Winters was threatened with court martial, the wolves were clearly agitated. Lipton was the Senior NCO and even though he was a human he thought he understood them well enough by then. Heck, he was upset too. None of them wanted to be left with only Sobol to lead them.
To the wolves though it was far more personal - Sobol had threatened their Alpha.
Lipton looked around at the other NCO’s, making sure they understood what they could be facing if they went through with their plan. When Guarnere declared, “I will not follow that man into combat,” well, that left no room for argument from the other wolves of the group - Grant, Talbert, and Martin.
It was Guarnere that led them out of Sink’s office, snapping a salute to Winters on the way by. Lipton knew their company Alpha was going to have questions later. The only thing Lipton could think of telling him was that pack was pack - Winters would understand the rest.
* * *
They were moved to Upottery in anticipation of finally getting into the war. With that brought them new officers and commanders. Lieutenant Meehan had replaced Sobol and despite being human he had a good touch with the werewolf members - Dick found out later that there was some wolf back in Meehan’s family tree and that his sister had married a full-blooded one as well.
Buck, on the other hand, while qualified for the position, hadn’t been at Toccoa and whatsmore had no idea how to behave around wolves. “Are you ticked because they like me? Because I’m spending time with them? Come on. You’ve been with these guys for two years. I’ve been here how many days?”
Dick gave him a look that would have any of the wolves averting their eyes and accepting his command. Buck was human and just stared right back. “Officers don’t gamble with the men…” He parked the Jeep, making sure to lean in towards Buck a little. “And you especially don’t do it against wolves that don’t consider you pack.”
Buck’s brows rose. “Is this the part where I’m supposed to roll over and show my belly?”
“Metaphorically speaking.” Dick got out of the Jeep, walking around to the passenger side. “What I’m saying is that it’s going to be hard enough for the men to accept you. With wolves it will be damn near impossible until you prove yourself.”
“Look, I’m not here to step on toes-”
Dick held up his finger, eyes filled with intent. “Never put yourself in a position to take from these men.” He was satisfied when, after a long moment, Buck broke eye contact in a show of submission.
* * *
“We’ve got a problem,” Martin said, letter in hand.
Lipton tilted his head in silent question - he really had been around wolves too long.
“My wife sent me this. Guarnere’s brother over in Italy? He got killed in action.”
“Damn.” Lipton shook his head. There was no way Guarnere knew - the rest of the pack would have known as well.
“What should I do?” Martin may have been gruff and may have pulled the best stern look ever - be it wolf or man - but underneath he really cared about his packmates.
“If it were me? I’d tell him.”
“Right before we jump?” Martin shook his head. “This is family Lip. He might lose it.”
Lipton understood of course. Like the other human officers and NCO’s, he had taken special classes on werewolf behavior. It was supposed to make it easier for them to lead their men. It seemed to help Lipton anyway, enough to know that something traumatic could make a wolf uncontrollably shift - something bad enough, well, that could make them go feral.
“I wish I had the right answer John.”
Martin nodded in understanding. As he walked away, Lipton wondered if he should talk to Winters about the situation.
* * *
Dick could feel the tension in the air from everyone in the 101st. They had been called off thanks to the fog and everyone was wired tight. None more than the wolves.
As he stood outside gazing at the sky with Nix, Dick made a decision. “Get the wolves, yeah?”
Nix cocked a brow. “Are you sure?”
“If they don’t run we might have a real problem on our hands.”
“Alright. I’ll cover for you with Meehan and any of battalion,” Nix assured. What they were doing was highly against regulation - the brass was pretty particular when it came to what wolves could and couldn’t do at any given time.
Dick gave him a half smile, clapping his hand on Nix’s shoulder. “Thanks Lew.”
“Hey, what are friends for, right?”
Dick waited until Nix left his sight before he went out to a secluded part of the base to wait for his pack’s arrival.
They trickled in through the dark. Liebgott, Toye, Grant, Martin, Webster, Talbert, Malarkey and Muck - naturally together - and finally Guarnere. Lipton had warned Dick about the impending implosion regarding Bill’s brother, so it was just as well they were doing this.
Dick didn’t say a word. He let the change come over him, bones shifting and readjusting with ease. The others followed suit. It was tempting to let a howl loose but Dick refrained. Instead he moved through all of his wolves, accepting a few head rubs along the way.
Looking over his shoulder, Dick gave his pack a nod before taking off at an easy lope. Padded feet followed him into the night. The pack would have their hunt.