"Now this is truly something you don't see every day." A deep voice rang surprised with a bit of a tinge of mocking tone added to it. The person who seemed to be the head of the hunters was perhaps no older than 45 - 50 years old. Dressed in kaki dark clothes, with a black puffed vest and a fur hat, he looked just like a regular animal hunter. And the rest who appeared from behind the man were more or less dressed in the same manner.

What would differentiate them from normal hunters though... would be the fact that in the multitude of guns and rifles which were hanging from their belts, backs and in their hands, wolfbane filled bullets were loaded. They most likely had wolfbane smeared even on the small knives which were hanging from their thighs.

"Chief, how come she is still standing? Wasn't a witch's spell absolute?" Asked confused one of the younger people coming out from between the lifeless frozen trees.

"Yup. This should be the case." The chief replied pensively, and quickly pointed his weapon towards Celia in a defensive stance, perhaps trying to test if the spell had also affected her.

But even in the weapon's direct range, she did not move an inch. Even her eyes did not blink. Luckily her fangs were hidden inside the closed mouth, her claws covered by the sleeves of her white coat and her dark eyes could only be seen clearly if you were to approach her. These facts added to the dark of night made it impossible for regular humans to easily perceive her partially transformed form.

"Hmmm it seems she froze standing. It could be the second spell got to her before the first one." What werewolf would not move when a deadly wolfbane filled riffle was pointed at it? The older man reckoned.

"Ohh... I understand!" Affirmed the young man enlightened, but he still felt it was weird. The second spell was cast after the first one, if someone would still be standing fighting the spells wouldn't it be the Alpha of the pack and a high ranked one at that? But he did not have the experience of his superior, so he believed what the chief said. Not to mention she was a girl, how could she fight against it?

Seeing the ten wolves or so before them frozen on their knees, not even managing to shift, they relaxed their bodies and lowered their guard. As expected having those two witches had so many advantages. Since they used them from a year ago until now, the percentage of captured wolves rose from 10 - 20% to 100 %. They were so effective that they even dared to enter the forest of the wolf king, which normally would be suicide.

The witches were to freeze the wolves, they would load them in trucks and be gone. It would take no more than two hours, and their source had also assured him that the only being who could feel something was amiss so fast as to hinder their plan, the king, was not in his palace tonight.

Normally even if this method of hunting was effective, it was difficult to attack a normal pack. Even the smallest pack they knew had about a thousand wolves, and the spell could not cover enough ground to ensure they could capture every wolf. As only capturing a portion of a group, would infuriate the rest, the consequence would be a united retaliation from the rest of the members and they would be killed immediately. This last year they mostly captured strays, but they were too few to help them in their goal.

To find out about the exercise that was held these weeks coupled with the king's absence, such a large group of werewolves at once, also young and easily controllable was truly a blessing. Another advantage was that capturing the werewolves under the watch of the king, would tone down his authority. Each group of students had pups from packs from around the world. It would help if it riled the werewolves up to revolt and keep the king occupied for some time.

"Now then, while the noncombatant members of your little makeshift pack are captured, let's ask some questions." The chief of the hunters said relaxed, lowering himself to one of the werewolves that seemed smaller and easier to interrogate.

Normally under the influence of the spell the werewolves were totally silenced, but the hunter had on his neck a small amulet that nullified partially the effect of the second spell. So even though the last ranked werewolf, who still had the deer beside him, could not move, he would still answer the questions regardless of his will.

"Which one of the males here is the Alpha, little pup?" He serenely asked, disregarding Celia's presence altogether through his question.

The young wolf was scared hearing the malicious voice and angry feeling his inability to react to an attack, but even so the solidarity with his pack would not let him answer honestly the question. He wanted to lie, but unfortunately the amulet also had the effect of making one answer questions truthfully. So instead of a lie, the truth came out.

"Celia is the Alpha." The words easily slipped from his lips, making even him baffled of what he had uttered.

"Ohhh... Celia?" Repeated the name wide eyed the hunter, briskly raising his gaze towards the only female between them. Then, after half a second, continued speaking.

"Now that is interesting! This explains better why the young female pup is still standing."

Celia was more and more covered in snow, with small snowflakes littering her face and hair. As the small pieces of sculpted ice kept melting on the warm werewolf girl's skin, small droplets of water adorned her beautiful face all around. One could mistake this water for sweat caused by the evident fright of the situation, perhaps this was also in the minds of the hunters, but she still did not react to their words.

To dare enter his highness's forest, something important was happening. She already found out that they wanted them captured, instead of killed. When would hunters not kill a werewolf on sight? Why the need to capture them alive? Perhaps she could find out a little bit more. She also did not dare act rashly knowing now that they only wanted to capture them. If help was already on the way and she did not wait, what if it resulted in the death of some of the werewolves. She could still wait a little longer. As long as the hunters talked she would not act.

"But how can a female wolf be the alpha? What is her rank and what type of student is she?" Asked again the hunter, he was really curious. Might as well ask a little more, before the trucks with the other werewolves arrived.

"Celia is a 3rd rank wolf, she is a watcher student." Slipped again the words from his mouth, even though this time the werewolf did not want to answer at all.

All the hunters that had been listening were fairly surprised at this piece of information which made them listen more intently to the interrogation. All the attention was on the "conversation" between the two.

"A watcher student and a 3rd ranked werewolf all in one. We have never captured a watcher before. They neglected to inform us of there being watcher students in the exercise. Those stupid wolves, can't even do this little work right. Well at least the capture of a watcher student redeems them a bit I guess." The older man sighed, shaking his head from side to side disapprovingly.

"Don't mess with our Alpha." The young werewolf affirmed angry through gritted teeth. He really cursed the man inside his mind. When he was asked a question he replied easily even without meaning to, but if he wanted to speak of his own volition it was difficult, he barely managed to open his mouth to say those few words.

"Ohhh ... It seems we have some very protective wolves." Smirking pleased, the hunter spoke mockingly at the futile attempt to retaliate, seeing that the other werewolves were also trying to move angrily.

Because of the sarcastic words, all the hunters snickered haughtily, with some even whistling as though they agreed.

With his smile growing even larger because of the response, the chief of the hunters got up and walked towards Celia. Seeing her up closer only then did he realize her eyes were dark as night. But he was still not alarmed as she had not tried to move at all this whole time. Werewolves were impulsive creatures in his preconceiving mind. A werewolf would have rashly attacked a hundred times by now, if he or she could move. After all, not one werewolf in the past had stayed still and assessed the situation before fighting against them.

Naturally, Celia would be no different in his opinion. Though the man seemed to be forgetting that the werewolves in front of him were not rogue ones that he had hunted in the past. They were pack born and raised werewolves, who were many times more calmer and rational.

"What a beautiful female wolf. Who would say you would be a 3rd rank wolf, little pup? You look quite delicious. What do you say boys?" He said licking his lips. The hunters got the lewd remark and smirked even more.

"So do we get a shot?" Some of them enthusiastically quickly tried their luck.

"Only after I get the first taste boys. Only after that." The grinning hunter affirmed indulgent, lowering his guard even more that he placed his riffle on his back instead of still carrying it in his hands.

The trucks arrived while he still admired the unmoving Celia. He had even raised his hand to caress her face, but stopped himself when the other hunters got down from the trucks to load their prey.

"Hey chief could we also take the deer? How about some barbecue tonight?" The young hunter who was still standing next to the last ranked werewolf asked happily.

"Sure that's a wonderful...." Started to say the distracted chief, taking his eyes off of Celia to look in the direction of the young hunter. But he was stopped in his reply as Celia's hand was already on his neck. When he regained his mind a second later feeling the choke, he realized that his feet were barely even touching the ground.

Celia knew she waited for as long as she could, but in the distance she could not hear the sounds of help coming. If she were to wait to be transported it would be even more difficult to save her and the others. So she decided to place her trust in her strength and that of her wolves. They helped her before when she was attacked by rogues, so even if it was her first hand experience in dealing with hunters she was determined to survive and help her pack survive also.

If help did not come, she would be that help.

"Chief!!" Yelled afraid the young hunter, as he saw his chief held by one hand in the air by the female wolf and could not believe his eyes. She was supposed to be immobile. How could she move so fast that his eyes could not even keep up with her movements?

Even if they had not dealt with 3rd rank wolves before, the high ranked wolves should still be at least slowed down somewhat, if the spell could not stop their movements altogether. But she did not seem to be the least bit affected by it.

The other hunters also turned their eyes towards their chief alarmed. They were about to carry the werewolves, so they did not have their eyes on the older man and Celia. Seeing the unbelievable position of the man who was currently struggling to remove Celia's arm, they immediately raised their weapons, but could not shoot as the chief was in her hand. Even if the wolfbane did not kill their chief, the bullet that contained it still could. They could not risk moving rashly.

"Let him go you monster or we'll shoot!" One of the hunters ordered with authority. He was still under the impression they had the situation under control.

"Let the girls come down from the truck and leave. If you do not want your chief's neck broken like a twig." She calmly and expressionlessly said. She did not falter and give in to their threat. Even if she did not get along with the other girls, she was still the Alpha. The Alpha's job was to ensure protection.

"How ..." Was the only word that could come out of the chief's mouth as he felt his air cut off.

His hands were on her right arm trying to break himself free, but even a finger he could not peel off of his neck, she was like made of stone. And her black eyes and calm cold face made him feel fear like no other wolf before her did. The beautiful ethereal girl that was currently in front of him was moments away from actually killing him. He should have never let his guard down, but never in a million years would he expect her strength.

The hunters were even more surprised. Her voice did not hold a speck of fear despite the twenty guns pointed at her. One bullet would render her wounded, two bullets would render her in critical condition, three bullets would render her body unable to regenerate and four would kill her instantly, but she showed no fear in front of twenty potential bullets that could hit her, or even more if they kept on firing.

They were in a deadlock, but she still said again this time with more power.

"Let the girls down. Or I will kill you all! You have five seconds! One!"

She raised her voice and revealed her protruded fangs, snarling at them. She was determined to fight until death. She even raised their chief higher that his feet left the ground, to show them she meant her words.

Her left hand was raised counting the seconds, and as she said the word one, the chief being in her grasp saw her palm. The other might not be so well informed as him, but his sources had informed him of many details even about watchers. So even though he had not met one before, he could still recognize the mark of an alpha of a pack of watchers. It meant they were in the presence of a werewolf only ranked below the werewolf council.

With this frightening realization in mind, another even more scary thought followed.

They could not survive such an encounter unscathed. They were screwed he finally thought.