YOU NEED ME

"You need me." I was set on this, "Peony isn't the best navigator and I'm super lucky - with me around, you're more likely to exit at the right gate this time."

Peony looked offended, but that could be his usual cat face.

Ben looked like he was seriously considering this. In fact, it was like everyone was doing some serious internal considerations.

Fluffy was the first to speak, "If Pretty Alpha is going, so am I. I don't want to be left behind in this world in case she doesn't come back."

Wait, what?

"No, that's right." Future Ben realized, "If I can't get you back in time, wouldn't I be dooming our future even earlier?"

Wolfgang crossed his arms, "One would think an adult as yourself would have considered this."

Future Ben looked slightly exasperated, "Don't judge me. At least I'm not the one spouting melodramatic lines about taking his last stand against the tide of evil."

Future Ben struck a pose and said, "My only regret is that I will not be able to behold the light of her smile in this life."

Wolfgang shook his head vigorously, "What utter rubbish!"

Ben smirked, "I'll be sure to let the future you know - AFTER I save your future butt."

"What makes you so sure this is going to work?" Wolfgang asked.

Ben shrugged, "I'm working with limited options."

"Okay, here's the plan." I decided to take charge. It felt pretty damn good to be the one with the plan, "We get Ben to before I disappear and stop me."

More than one wolf looked like they were about to protest so I held up my hand, "I'm the Alpha. No arguments."

"Alright fine. Go on." Ben sighed like I was being troublesome, but I graciously ignored him.

"You NEED me to come with you Ben." I repeated in my most sensible voice so he wouldn't think I just wanted to go on a time travel joy ride, "You look like some shady hobo now. You'd need me to convince me to listen."

I seriously wanted in on this.

"Hobo?" Ben repeated.

"Shhh..." Ki smiled, "No arguments, beta."

"Shut up, dog." Ben growled, but he crossed his arms and also shut up so I could continue.

I grinned, "Anyway, it'll be easy. Once I hear the story, I'm sure I won't go, and everything will be fine."

I was a very reasonable alpha.

"Then all we have to do is get Ben home to the future and make sure everything worked out."

I gave everyone my wide smile, but no one was looking particularly confident in my plan.

"Once Ben is settled, we come home back to our time."

And get this, I was such a great planner.

"Like we return earlier so we won't even miss breakfast!"

We were going to save the future before breakfast!

There was a silence, and I let my wolves take it all in. When no one was forthcoming with a reaction, I prodded, "So? What do you think?"

I know it was kind of basic, but sometimes simplicity was a kind of genius too, right?

Ben groaned, "I don't even know where to start."

My other wolves looked at each other and then Fluffy beamed, "Pretty Alpha's plan is brilliant like the sun. We can barely look at it directly. Please take me into the sun with you."

I crossed my arms. The sarcasm was not necessary.

Ben hit him, "What the heck, Fluff! You're the advisor. Say something actually useful."

Neil raised his hand, "Sorry, princess. I'll come too, but I'm gonna tell you upfront, I don't get the plan."

"What?" Jax was shocked, "Weren't you listening? It was pretty straightforward."

"Only a fool would think so." Ben pinched his brow. Ben's face had weathered... It made me feel like his years had been hard on my childhood friend.

I felt bad about disappearing on him... On everyone. But not anymore. I was going to fix things... Once I fixed my plan. Obviously, if Jax was the only one okay with it, we had a problem.

"What wrong with my plan?" I asked because I was optimistic, but not delusional.

"It's hardly a plan, Sam." Ben said, and then he sighed,

"Right, I forgot, you're still just shifted. Don't worry, Sam. You'll get better at it."

Wth.

Harvey raised his hand, "I have a question, Alpha."

"Yeah?" I looked expectantly to my good beta. He had been looking pensive and thoughtful throughout, so I felt sure if he spoke up now, he had collected his thoughts.

"The cat had said it was only able to time travel to a 6-year range accuracy." Harvey said, "Give or take 2 to 3 years."

"Oh right." Neil's hand flew to his forehead, "It's not guaranteed that we would be on time, we could end up waiting years before we reach the right moment, or miss it entirely. And we might not even be able to reach this year upon our return either."

"That's no problem. We'll simply make the cat open the time gate and try again." Fluffy smiled.

"I....I have a limited power." The cat tried to explain. It looked terrified in Fluffy's arms, "I would need to rest after travel at times."

Like how it had stayed with our pack for a couple of years.

"Exactly how long is your rest?" Harvey asked.

"No rest needed." Fluffy smiled, "This cat will open the time gate as many times as it is needed. Even if it has to power it with its own life force."

The cat made a miserable squeaking sound and ducked it's fluffy head deeper in my cape.

Okay, fine. So our mode of transport had a few kinks. Our mode of transport being the cat, whose ability to time travel was only slightly better than my ability to come up with a plan.

"What do the rest of you think?" I asked more tentatively now, "How would you guys prefer to do it?"

I mean, let's not all Icarus-rush into my brilliant sun.

"I prefer to follow goddess." Ki volunteer with his killion dollar smile.

"Me too!" Fluffy beamed.

I decided to categorize these two as the idiots who would blindly follow me to our doom and look to the others.

"Such a plan is not without its merit." Wolfgang reluctantly allowed.

What? Et tu, Hotstuff? Was living in our barbarian pack dissolving your brain cells? You're supposed to be my tutor right? Guide me on the right path!

"Eh...hear that?" Jax jabbed Neil in the ribs, "Hotstuff said it was a good plan. I saw the merit first."

And Neil shrugged, "Well, I'm just the muscle. I'll follow what Alpha thinks best."

What if this Alpha thought her plan was crap?

Ben actually had the gall to laugh, "Ah, the nostalgia, when we all ran around like idiots."

"And in your experience, did we ever run wrong with goddess, beta?" Ki asked.

This made Ben actually take pause, "No. Never."

Another poignant pause, "Not even once."

"Alright. Please give me a few minutes to make the arrangements, alpha." Harvey decided.

What? Even Harvey? Wait, no! Why were all the intelligent wolves following the stupid one?

And then Harvey said very quietly, "I cannot speak for the decisions I make in the future, but for what it's worth, I can decide upon my present allegiance. And that, Alpha, had always been with you."

Oh.

"I know." Or at least I believed, "I know you aren't a traitor, Harv. Even if you ever betray me, I believe you only did it for me."

Harvey's mouth pressed into a straight line, and he nodded, just an iota.

"You weren't a traitor, Harv. We were all doing what we could to protect what Sam left behind." Future Ben finally spoke with the maturity that matched his age, "I was just mad that you guys didn't come with me. I didn't understand at first, but just as I was protecting Savy, you were protecting the rest of our wolves, and Ki was guarding Sam's way home."

"Sometimes the hardest position to take, is the one on the other side." Wolfgang noted.

Harv blinked back what could have been tears. He covered his eyes with his arm so I couldn't see for sure.

"S***, Ben." Harvey said.

Ben patted Harvey's shoulder, "Come on, Harv. At least have more faith in yourself."

Which was probably the only time I would ever see Ben being the big brother to Harvey.

And then Harv straighten again and stepped away to mindlink "arrangements".

Jax looked about and then asked, "Okay, so how do we work this thing?"

"This thing" being the cat in Fluffy's arms.

"Can someone else carry me?" Peony asked meekly.

"Why? Are you not satisfied with the way I'm handling you pretty kitty?" Fluffy asked.

"Mew. It's fine. I'm very satisfied." Peony managed.

Fluffy smiled and stroked the cat, "Then there is no problem."

A black rectangular doorway suddenly opened up in front of us. At first I thought that was a time gate, but Peony actually did that hissing arched back thing, nearly jumping out of Fluffy's arms.

{Mate? ~❤️} Boo was hopeful.

The black curse seeped out and we all stood back to see what would step out.

It wasn't mate. I knew from the way Boo dropped back to sulk.

Only Harvey stepped forward expectantly.

"Beta Harvey, I have brought the items you requested." Leon handed over two familiar black duffle bags. They were similar to the default bags my betas used to transport my stuff etc.

Harvey tossed them to Neil.

This Leon really didn't have the panache of the one in the movie. He didn't brandish his sword, yell cool one liners, or cut mountains in half.

In real life, he moved and spoke very quietly as he handed Harvey a black pouch, "His majesty says you may use me for the next two hours."

"Thanks. That's fine." Harvey said, "Two hours is more than what we need."

Leon bowed, "Understood."

"Already, the traitor knows how to call in backup." Ben grumbled.

But Harvey was back to being my calm beta again, he unzipped the black pouch and distributed the ammo, "It doesn't hurt to be prepared."

The guys all pocketed some, even Future Ben, so I'm going to assume they were all armed under their jackets.

And then Harvey smiled his wry smile, "And should it come down to a battle, it wouldn't hurt to have his sword on our side."

Yeah, it would be for the best that Harvey was always on my side too.