📎A/N. Hello my lovelies! Sorry for the delay in posting. I've been busy editing Masked to get it ready to publish. I'll be posting updates soon for those of you that are interested in becoming part of my street team. Don't forget to follow me so you don't miss the notifications. I'm getting a little excited.

Hope you enjoy the chapter... If you do, don't forget to vote..

Take care,

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Kaitlyn cricked her neck from side to side. The resulting pop reinforced the pain in her already sore bones. As it looked like Parker's phone call wasn't about to end in a hurry, she wandered to look out the window of the office and stretched her neck again. One week of driving illegal weapons across the country was more than her nerves could bear.

In less than two weeks she had avenged her father's killer, commenced a relationship with a man she was in love with, nearly lost him, and then entered a war between two factions of a race that, until recently, she had no idea existed. Not to mention, she was aiding and abetting body snatchers, cyber-criminals, and counter-fitters.

And don't get me started on the mafia immigrants.

Things had definitely entered the twilight zone.

A shrill beep from her phone alerted her to a new message. After reading it, she pocketed it and, without thinking, chewed on her thumbnail.

Why the hell do I feel like I'm being called to the principal's office?

"Problem?" Parker asks.

Kaitlyn swung around to discover Parker had finished and was looking quizzically at her. "No. It was just Joshua. The taxi has just left the airport. He'll be here soon."

Parker raised an eyebrow. "You're not looking as thrilled at the prospect."

"I'm fine. Has Simon checked in yet?" Kaitlyn asked, trying to evade the subject. "I'll be a miracle if freak-boy gets that Silverado back here in one piece."

After they had distributed the final batch of weapons to New Mexico, Murphy and Kaitlyn had flown back to Colorado. Simon, however, had taken delivery of the new toy he'd negotiated in the deal with the mafia don, Ambrose, and was driving it back, hoping to break all speed records in the process.

"You're not, and no." Parker narrowed her eyes. "I may not know you very well, but even a blind person could see somethings up. Spill."

Kaitlyn huffed in frustration. "I know I'm new to all this immigrant stuff, but I've just participated in an illegal purchase and distribution of firearms. Not only that, I have enough evidence to put away the head of the East Coast Mafia cartel, and I have to turn a blind eye. I am an officer of the law, and I have an oath to uphold. Yet, here I am, knee deep in something that goes against everything I stand for. Not to mention all the illegal things that you all get up to."

Parker let out a deep breath and came over to stand beside Kaitlyn. "If the last eleven years have taught me anything, is that you'll need to be prepared to blur the lines. As much as you don't want to admit it, you have a foot in two worlds, and you'll need to let go of some belief's and embrace others."

"That's all fair and well. But what happens if Murphy and I don't last, and I go back to my old life."

Parker let out a dry laugh as if she'd found her words amusing. "Kaitlyn, first and foremost, you have a grandfather who's a Werewolf for God's sake. You are stuck in the middle whether you like it or not. Second... are you in love with Murphy?"

Kaitlyn glanced at Parker, not sure of why the odd question was posed. Not only that, it was private.

"Well," Parker asked when it looked like she might not answer. "Are you?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but, yes, I do."

"Well, we don't have a problem, then do we? No matter what happens, and whatever decisions you'll have to make about your future, your lives are intertwined."

"I don't understand how you can be so sure?"

"Because your Murphy's m—" Parker stopped midsentence and a confused expression fell like a veil over her face. This was quickly followed by her jaw dropping a fraction, and her eyebrows shot up. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. You don't know. He didn't tell you."

Kaitlyn frowned at Parker's odd behavior. "Tell me what?"

Parker shook her head. "I suggest that you sit down and have a chat with your man. The sooner, the better, it might make things a bit clearer. We'll talk then, and I think we'll do it over a few drinks. By then, you will need it."

On what universe does that make sense? Clearer? Clearer about what?

No matter how much Kaitlyn pushed, Parker refused to elaborate. Instead, she gave Kaitlyn a run down on the latest suspected attack. Joshua, Kaitlyn's grandfather, arrived sooner than expected and was shown straight to Parker's office.

When Joshua entered, he strode directly to Kaitlyn and pulled her into a bear hug. "You know you scared everyone when you just took off like that," he said, referring to her return to Florida with her mother after they had rescued her from Ambrose's estate and killed Elijah.

Joshua loosened his grip and held her at arms-length. "How is your mom?"

Like Murphy, her grandfather made her feel short. No mean feat considering she topped the measuring tape at a little over six foot. Even though she has only known him for a short time, it felt a lifetime. What she found hard to wrap her head around was that he was her grandfather, but looked a few years short even to be her parent.

"On the mend. She's a lot stronger than I gave her credit for, you should go and see her."

Kaitlyn recognized the guilt and pain that washed over his expression. "Had I known, she knew, I would never have stayed away. You know that don't you."

She nodded. "Mom knows that too. But she still misses him, and it might be nice for her to talk to someone who knew him."

Guilt at ignoring the other occupant washed over her when Parker cleared her throat. She grimaced and quickly introduced Joshua to Parker.

"Alpha, I'm honored to meet you."

Parker smiled and said, "Please call me Parker, and you are more than welcome. Daniel has nothing but praise for the service you have shown over the years."

"I understand that Elise is up to her old tricks again," said Joshua.

"How is your pack coping with the news?" asked Parker.

"As well as the rest," he said, "However, we are in a better position than most. We have some underground bunkers that will keep us safe."

Kaitlyn brows shot up. "You what?"

"Between the Eisenhower and Kennedy era, there was a hoo-hah about nuclear war. Fallout shelters were popping up everywhere. The pack made the decision that our site B in the caves wasn't going to help if the humans complexly screwed up. So we decided that underground was the way to go. The only difference is that we've maintained as well as grown site B." Joshua turned to Parker. "So, do I get to see this command center everyone seems to be talking about."

Parker held out her hand towards the door. "Certainly. Your Alpha phoned and asked me to give you a tour. I understand you might have a pack member you want me to consider with the next intake."

"Murphy never told me your pack had fall-out bunkers," said Kaitlyn as they were heading out of the city a while later.

Once Joshua had taken a tour of the facilities, Parker had headed off to a meeting, leaving Kaitlyn to return to Nederland with her grandfather.

He shrugged. "To be honest, I don't think we ever thought we'd need them. Now, there's talk of sending the children and some protectors underground as a precaution." Joshua paused. He paused. "So, where's Murphy?"

Kaitlyn had overtaken a slow moving car before she answered. "He's with the doctors. They're running a few tests."

"Nothing's wrong, is it? I thought he was fully recovered."

"Murphy's fine," she said, reassuring her grandfather. "They are trying to develop a vaccine against the Lycan's poison. As Murphy is the only known survivor, they need blood and tissue samples, so he gets to be a pincushion for today."

Joshua sat back and let out a sarcastic laugh. "I can't imagine him taking that too well."

Kaitlyn had to agree. He was less than impressed when she had left him that morning. "He's not. I think he scared the new doctor into next week."

"Vaccine? I didn't think that any of our doctors had that sort of capability."

"You don't; the new doctor is like me. She's a microbiologist who's agreed to help."

Joshua looked surprised. "Do you know if she's any good?"

"I should hope so; she heads up the infectious diseases team at the CDC. That the Centres for Disease Control, they—"

"I know what they do," said Joshua as he let out a snort, "I have lived in the human world for a many number of years. Remember?"

Kaitlyn grimaced. "Sorry. It just gets so confusing. I've met so many immigrants over the last week that have no idea what's going on in the wider world around them. They've never been out of the town they were born in."

"You don't sound as though you agree with their choice."

"I just don't understand how they can be happy being confined like that."

Joshua sighed. "Kaitlyn, you need to understand, they are not forced to stay there. They can leave if they so choose. However, many of us are content to live within the pack and not interact with the wider human world if they don't need to. We have a lot to hide, and our longer lives makes it all the more difficult to blend in. There is a limited shelf life for us. Don't you think I would still be in Alpha Locke's team if I still could? The world is becoming smaller, and we can't risk putting me into another large city's police department, for at least another ten years."

The rest of the drive to Nederland was spent bringing Joshua up to speed with the rest of the information they had found to date. After not finding Murphy in the main house, Kaitlyn and Joshua headed down towards the valley. With any luck, he would be finished with the doctors, and she could finally have some time with him to discuss the fact she needed to return to Boston sooner, rather than later. There was only so much leave she could use up before the FBI started to ask questions.

While they had spent the past two weeks together, they had virtually no alone time. The little they had, was spent on training or other physical pursuits that, while extremely enjoyable and satisfying, didn't allow for much discussion.

They had just reached the first clearing when Daniel emerged from the woods. Kaitlyn nearly did a double take as he strode towards them. From his state of undress, she assumed he had just come from a run. The woman in her couldn't help but admire the eye candy she was feasting on. It didn't come as a surprise to discover the scar that marred the side of his face was echoed across his well-defined chest.

She wondered how Simon, the opportunist, hadn't convinced Murphy, Daniel and a handful of other she had met, to sell calendars. She could see it now. Werewolves of the USA. It would leave the Firefighters and Grumpy Cat ones for dead.

Kaitlyn then did a mental shudder. He would include Joshua in it just to piss her off. Even though he could turn heads, she wasn't sure she could take seeing her grandfather in a state of undress. Even if it was for a good cause, her eyes wouldn't recover. It was her grandfather after all.

"Joshua, it's been a while."

"Alpha Locke." Joshua straightened, nodded and cast his eyes downward for a moment as if saluting.

They resumed their path as Daniel and Joshua fell into conversation. Kaitlyn fell quiet when Daniel began to question Joshua about his role in Elijah's downfall. While she had made her peace with the past, it still conjured up painful memories at the loss of her father. Something she would have to deal with over time.

"I can certainly understand the need for revenge for Ryan," said Daniel. "He was a good man and served us well. I know his decision to not turn was a painful one for you. I told you years ago, and I'll say it again — he was one of us, right to the end."

"Thank you, Alpha Locke."

"The need to protect must be strong in your family; your granddaughter managed to follow those that came before her."

Kaitlyn threw Daniel a frustrated glare. "Hello, the granddaughter in question is right here you know."

"Not to mention she has your stubbornness and her father's inability to stay quiet," said Daniel.

Kaitlyn bit the scathing words that were about to roll off her tongue. While he looked and sounded deadly serious, she had a feeling that he was making a joke at her expense.

Joshua laughed. "Unfortunately, her mother has more to do with her stubborn streak, than me. She's very much like her that way."

"Still here," Kaitlyn said, wishing she had her taser with her.

"I regret not sending word that Murphy had been attacked. I had no idea that he had mended that relationship."

Joshua sighed. "Murphy was never one to reveal more than he needed to."

"He certainly kept quiet about a number of important topics."

"I suppose that's why all this has come as a shock to us all. I was with them throughout most of it, and he revealed nothing." Joshua shook his head "Liam's not said much, but Molly is beside herself, she hasn't stopped smiling."

Shock? What's come as a shock? Kaitlyn narrowed her eyes. They were speaking, yet she had no idea what the hell they were talking about. Irritated at both men, Kaitlyn stormed ahead towards the infirmary and raced up the short flight of stairs. She was almost to the door when the two men fell silent.

"Joshua?"

The odd way in which Daniel said her grandfather's name gave Kaitlyn pause, and she turned back to see what the problem was.

Joshua was so still he could have been a statue. She wasn't even sure he was breathing. The only thing that moved was his irises which turned a strange amber color and then back to brown. When a low growl reverberated from him, deep from within her chest, she became alarmed.

This escalated when Daniel began to swear under his breath and stepped between Joshua and Kaitlyn as if placing himself as a protective barrier between them.

Kaitlyn rushed back towards Joshua and Daniel blocked her path. "Keep clear. He's struggling for domination with his wolf."

"But why?"

"I knew I should not have let her on pack ground."

Joshua's growl became pronounced, and he made a motion towards the door. "Let me through."

In an instant, Daniel pulled Joshua from the porch and down the steps. The entire time Joshua struggled against the stronger man.

"Leave him alone," Kaitlyn screamed out as she flew down the stairs. If Joshua's pained expression was anything to go by, there was something seriously wrong.

Even though she knew she had no chance, Kaitlyn tried to pry Daniel off her grandfather. It wasn't until she realized Joshua was acting out of character. Something was off.

While Joshua was becoming more agitated by the moment, Daniel remained calm. He wasn't aggressive or any other reaction she would have expected for a physical altercation. She let go and took a step back.

What the hell is going on?

From out of nowhere, two other Werewolves appeared. They each grabbed one of Joshua's arms and held him in place.

Once he was sure they had Joshua in their grip, Daniel stepped back. "We need to get him under control. This could not have come at a worse time."

Joshua struggled against his restraints. "I have to see her."

Kaitlyn was even more confused than ever.

See who?

"No. While you are like this, that is no possible."

"Would someone please tell me what the hell is going on?" demanded Kaitlyn.

Daniel ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. "It appears that your grandfather has found his mate at the worst possible time."

Kaitlyn tilted her head in confusion. "I don't understand, Alice has a mate."

"It's not her; it's Dr. Baghurst."

Kaitlyn glanced towards the building. "The CDC doctor? But she's not an immigrant."

"You of all people should know that we don't always find our mates from within."

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📎A/N. Well... what did you think?? Some of you already guessed it.  You are such smart cookies ;-)

I wonder what Petra will think of a strange man hanging around? *evil laugh* Well, we will just need to wait and see ;-)

Thank you for all your support.  I hope to get the next chapter out late this weekend. 

Take care,

❤ ℳ