RUNNING WITH WOLVES

Easton ran away when he was seventeen, leaving a grief stricken Josh and an alcoholic mother behind. The weight of responsibility that Easton felt when their father, Ed, had been murdered was far too much to carry. So he left it all behind to join the Army.

Easton did not excel at first in the Army. He struggled in boot camp and combat training. It wasn't the physical struggles that got him, but the mental baggage he carried from home. With no sense of closure, he felt like he had doomed himself to a career of distraction because he had left things unspoken and unfinished. Over time, he began to adapt and the Army helped fill the void of family for him. He made new brothers and learned a lot about himself in the process. 

He became an Army Ranger, and saw two combat pumps in Afghanistan with the 75th. He went on to claim several distinctions in valor for feats he managed to pull off during combat engagements. For Easton, this sort of recognition and purpose was what he missed growing up. His father had never been home because he was out with the MC, outlawing to make money which put food on their table. He made a vow then that he'd avenge his father, and return home to be the brother Josh deserved. When Easton's contract came to an end, he declined re-enlistment and took a road trip to enact his revenge.

Easton, now armed with many new skills the military provided him, was able to track down his father's murderer fairly easy. That was the only easy part though. Vetting the old wolf was the real challenge, and when it came time to make the kill, Easton was forced to kill many others as well. The kill happened during a drug deal. The targeted wolf was attempting to make a large sale. When he passed the package off to exchange for a briefcase full of money, Easton shot him from 500 yards out. He watched the round hit the old wolf right in the chest, blowing out his back and hitting some person behind him.

 When the smoke settled and Easton realized the extent he had gone to exact his revenge, he began to panic. He knew the local pack would require reparations for the damage he had caused. So he collected the drugs and cash from the deal, disposed of all the bodies, and cleaned up his mess. He hand delivered both the drugs and cash to the local pack's den, explained why he was there, and asked to leave in peace. The pack leader, angered by the death of his wolf but relieved the investment came through, granted Easton 24 hours to get out of town. Easton left immediately.

 He left Iowa far behind, moving west and returning home to Denver. He had high hopes of being brought back into the MC and pack, but more importantly, he hoped his family would take him back.