Daniel skidded to a halt just outside the library entrance. His heart pumped in his chest. They had found the traitor. Just not the one they thought it was. He was kicking himself for not realizing this earlier.

Tamas, a quiet lurker, never committed himself to any topic and was always the last to agree to any council decision. The signs where there, how did he not see it? When he surveyed the quiet street, he frowned. Where the hell did he go?

Simon, who had been leaning against the wall, stood up and pocked his phone. "What's the matter?"

"Which way did Alpha Tamas go?"

Simon's brows rose at Daniel's sharp voice. He indicated towards where they had come. "He went that way in a hurry. Something about an emergency with one of his beta's"

"Shit!"

After thirty minutes of scouring the entire town and interrogating any pack member they came upon, Daniel had to admit defeat. Tamas was well and truly gone. It was as if he had disappeared into thin air. He headed back to the library, leaving Simon and the others to continue the search. Perhaps Abraham would have an idea where the traitor might have headed?

When he arrived at the library, Parker, Morgan, and a weakened looking Abraham was waiting outside.

"He's gone," Daniel said. He stopped in front of Abraham and hesitated. The elderly werewolf looked so frail that a gust of wind would sweep him away.

How did we ever believe he was behind this?

He took a deep breath. "We need to find out who else is missing. Tamas can't have done this on his own. We have to know just how deep the rot goes into your pack."

Abraham's eyes glazed over and sorrow etched into his face. The acute pain at the betrayal of not only one of their own, but his own flesh and blood must be tearing him apart. Daniel wasn't sure if the elder werewolf was able to cope with the shock of the situation they now found themselves in. He looked to Morgan and wasn't surprised to discover he too reflected concern for Abraham.

Abraham clutched tighter onto his cane. His frail form shook and Morgan stepped forward as if to catch him if he fell.

"Perhaps you should sit," Morgan said.

Abraham's eyes cleared and he glanced around with a confused expression. "There must be some sort of explanation."

Morgan placed a hand on Abraham's shoulder. "Then help us find it," he said.

Abraham's watery eyes blinked a few times before his forehead crinkled. "Tamas was brought up to protect our people, not destroy them."

"Perhaps he had no choice?" said Morgan in a half whisper.

Daniel clenched his fists and kept his thoughts to himself. There was always a choice.

Careful to keep his emotions in check, Daniel cleared his throat. "We need to find him before word gets out. We'll need to speak to anyone who might know what he was up to and where he might have gone."

"And we'll need access to his office and any computers he may have used," said Parker.

Simon pushed through their link. It looks like three betas are also missing.

Find out what you can and get back to me.

Daniel severed the connection. What if there's more? The situation was going to rip the pack apart. However, right now this was the least of their problems. They needed free reign of the pack's property, Tamas's house and office. "Do you give us permission?"

***

"How is he?" Daniel asked.

Morgan rubbed his jaw and shook his head. "I'm not sure. The pack's doctor is with him now."

They had only just deposited Parker in Tamas's office when Abraham collapsed. The shock had become too much for him and his body shut down. After carefully carrying him to his home, the elders had been alerted to the situation. It was then all hell broke loose. Within thirty minutes the remainder of the pack descended upon them, demanding answers. Divide and conquer was the only way they were going to get through this day. Morgan dealt with the distraught pack while Daniel alerted the council. Their hope was Tamas and his betas acted alone. But until Parker could confirm a link between Tamas and Elise, it was all heresy. Even with the video evidence, they were hard-pressed to convince the Texas packs elders of any wrongdoing on Tamas's part.

"Any word on the old man?" Simon asked after returning from another sweep of the town.

Daniel pocketed his phone. "He conscious, but the doctor won't anyone near him yet."

Simon fell quiet and shuffled his feet. "Do you think he'll survive?"

He ran a hand through his hair. This was a question playing on his mind as well. The Texas pack couldn't take losing two alphas in one day. Before he could answer, his phone vibrated. When he pulled it out and glanced at the screen, his pulse quickened. Parker must have found something.

"You'd better get over here fast," she said, confirming his guess.

"We'll be right there."

It took less than five minutes to collect Morgan and head to Tamas's house. When they arrived, Parker was pacing the alpha's office while biting her thumbnail. A rock plummeted to the bottom of his stomach. Her expression could only mean one thing. She'd found what she was looking for.

She stopped and indicated the laptop on the desk. "There was nothing on the Macbook." Parker then headed to the small meeting table. A second laptop took center stage. "I found that under Tamas's bed. It took me a bit to get in, but when I did, the rest was easy." She paused and her brows knitted together. "You'd all better sit down. I don't think you're going to like what I found."

Simon glanced around the room and frowned. "That's probably a sure bet considering things are going from bad to worse."

"The good news, if there can be any, is that I believe it is limited to Tamas and the three missing betas," she said.

Daniel leaned forward. "How can you tell?"

"He took four trips to Vancouver. Each time the same three accompanied him. They were there less than a day, and the mileage on the car they rented was enough to get them to Middlemarch and back. There's also a trip to Pennsylvania which co-insides with one of Matheo's stops"

"But that could just be a coincidence," said Morgan.

Daniel nodded. While it looked damming, it could be a coincidence

"I would normally agree, but there's something else..." Parker hesitated and her lips set into a grim line. Her eyes darted back to the open laptop and Daniel moved closer, knowing there was something on it she wanted them to see.

She sighed and took a deep breath. "You need to hear this."

Parker tapped the screen and an icy chill ran down his spine when Elise's distinctive accent boomed across the room.

Simon bolted up from his chair, and Morgan froze as they listened to Tamas and Elise in a heated discussion about money and the online supply of Wildfire.

Daniel's heart thudded in his chest and anger set in. How could Tamas have betrayed them like this. Not only that, it appeared he had supplied funding for her research. "How much?"

Parker stopped the recording and flipped to an open window on the screen. "I wondered the same thing. It was relatively simple to get into the pack's bank accounts and from there easy to find what he was talking about."

She scrunched her nose as if she had just tasted something bitter.

An uneasy lump settled in the bottom of his stomach. Parker was reluctant to give them the information. Unable to see her in so much pain, Daniel reached out to cup her cheek. She was the strongest woman he knew. Whatever she had discovered could only mean one thing. The information was about to hurt someone.

Her voice came out in a whisper. "Tamas had been siphoning off funds from the Generation fund. It's almost gone."

Morgan's head snapped around. "He's what? There should be millions in that fund."

Simon swore under his breath and Daniel closed his eyes. Surely Tamas couldn't do that to his people. Could he?

He let out a low rumbling growl. His muscles tensed and a burning rage boiled just below the surface.

Morgan dropped his elbows to his knees and clasped his hands together as if in prayer. He stared at the floor while shaking his head. "How are we going to tell Abraham?"

"They must have something left," said Simon. "He couldn't have been that callous?"

Parker shook her head. "I couldn't find any other accounts. But I may have missed something."

Daniel rubbed his forehead. The generation fund acted as the pack's pension fund. It was the income used by families who needed to take a step out of the public eye before humans noticed they didn't age. It gave them enough money to live on for a human generation when they could return to the workforce and the human world.

With the fund depleted, the families would have nothing to live on and many would need to risk exposure in order to put food on the table and pay their bills.

"What do we do now?" Simon asked.

Daniel stood to his full height. Enough was enough. "Now we know who the traitor is, we reconvene the council and put an army together. She can't be allowed to corrupt any more of our people."

"So we finally take the fight to her?" said Simon

Morgan lifted his head. "Daniel, I want to put a stop to this just as much as you. But if we descend on Philadelphia on mass we will lose the element of surprise."

"I know, that's why we are going to have to come up with a way to get our forces in there without being detected," said Daniel.

Parker took her glasses off and chewed on the temples. "I think I might have an idea..."

"Don't leave us hanging," said Simon.

She looked at Daniel. "I don't think you're going to like it, but the only way to make it work is to get Alice and Petra to work out how to make it strong enough for Werewolves."

He frowned. "Make what?"

"My Calendula and honey tea."

"I hate tea," said Simon. "Why would I want tea?"

Morgan chuckled. "Simon, you can't be that dense. Parker's sharing the secret to her masking." He turned to Daniel. "Do you think it will work?"

Daniel's phone beeped, stopping his answer. He glanced at the message and his body froze. It was from Michelle, the bounty hunter they had sent to Philadelphia. Dread, and a measure of despair overcame him as he re-read the message.

> Elise is mobilizing to take out another pack. Do not know which, but soldiers have to report to base Friday. Still working out where base is. Will let you know when I have more information.

Daniel passed the phone to Morgan. "Regardless of whether it works or not, we have run out of time. Her reign of terror stops now. We are taking this fight to her."

***

Petra signed the overdue requisition forms and nodded at the small waif of a thing the administration had sent over to hound her until it was done.

As she handed back the clipboard, Joshua and Alice caught her eye. Alice had been on the phone for the past forty-five minutes. Whatever it was about was serious, if Alice's wringing hands and pensive expression was anything to go by.

No time like the present.

If she was ever going to find out what they were talking about, she needed to see through her plan. One she'd gotten from watching an old movie the night before. Careful to act normal, she grabbed her tablet, dismissed the accounts clerk and headed back out to the lab. What she was about to do was underhanded but they had left her no choice. Two days back on her home ground and she was as in the dark as she had been in Colorado. Despite her initial concerns about having to explain Alice and Joshua's presence in the lab, things had fallen into place. Sanjeev's mother had taken gravely ill and he needed to return to India. Lyn, her right hand, was too focused on her upcoming wedding that she accepted her lame excuse and arrange for passes without any questions.

As expected, when she came nearer to Alice and Joshua, they became closed mouth. Alice looked on the verge of tears and Joshua's expression was stony.

Whatever it is, it must be a doozy.

Joshua's fists were clenched and his entire body was rigid. She was sure the anger wasn't directed at Alice, but none the less, Alice flinched when he stepped away from her.

Petra's gaze wandered over Joshua's broad shoulders which were now more defined than ever under his shirt.

What I would give to see what's under that material.

She balked at her sudden deviation into no man's land. Something her mind was doing with alarming frequency lately, whether she liked it or not. Even her dreams weren't safe. Each night, Joshua was taking center stage in some very raunchy and erotic dreams. It had gotten she wasn't able to face him in the morning. She could feel her face heat up.

Just put it down and leave.

Petra placed the tablet on the bench near Alice. "Any results from that last batch?"

Alice frowned. "W-what?"

"The last batch of samples. Did you managed to make any headway?"

Alice's expression cleared. "Oh that. Results aren't back in yet."

Petra's phone beeped and she pulled it from her pocket. Careful to keep the phone away from prying eyes, she pretended to scan the screen. It wouldn't do for Alice and Joshua to see it was her preset alarm and not a message. "I have to deal with this. I'll be back in a minute."

She tried not to appear eager as she headed back to her office. When she did, she closed the door, sat behind her desk and clicked the play button on the monitor. She now had a live audio stream from her tablet which was conveniently sitting between Alice and Joshua.

Pretending to be working, she kept an eye on the window of her office which looked out to the lab beyond. Alice was biting her nails and her expression grew panicked.

"How sure are they on their intel?" asked Joshua.

Alice sighed. "Very. She's gearing up to take out another pack. Daniel and the council are mobilizing and sending as many as they can."

Petra raised an eyebrow. Pack of what?

"I'll get the first flight I can to Philly."

"Not so fast." Alice handed Joshua slip of paper. "The plan is to try and get everyone in without Elise and her soldiers knowing. Once we have the manpower, then Daniel will attack."

Joshua's brows rose. "That's hardly likely to happen. We'll have to fight our way in. They will know who we are a mile away."

Petra's heart pounded in her chest. Am I hearing this right? Surely not.

Alice nodded at the note. "That's where that comes in."

Joshua scanned the bit of paper. "What is it?"

"That's how Parker masks her scent. We need to make a stronger version of it so we can get our army in without alerting Elise's men."

"Are you sure it will work?"

"We know it works on Parker."

Joshua snorted. "That hardly means it will work on us."

"We need to get the formula right."

Joshua scratched the back o his head. "It would go a long way to get us in there without being detected. If we are going up against Elise and her army, we need as many fighters we can get. This way we have a remote chance."

Alice fell quiet and the corners of her mouth dropped. "Even if we do manage to synthesize a masking agent and get our forces into Philly, we still need to develop a vaccine to the Lycan poison, otherwise good people are going to die. We still have a way to go to find out how. It's all my fault, if I had insisted we needed help earlier, maybe we'd have a vaccine by now."

Joshua placed a hand on Alice's shoulder. "Don't blame yourself. You and Petra have done everything you could. Elise was always one step ahead. We know the risks. Vaccine or no vaccine, each of us is willing to give our lives to protect our people and the humans that undoubtedly will be her next victims."

Petra stilled. This conversation was getting out of control. Not only that, it was no longer making any sense.

"Alice, we cannot let Elise continue down the path she has taken. Look at what she did to the pack in Silver Lake and how many others she'd killed over the past year. She is so committed to her genocide agenda, we can't stand idly by. Don't you want your children to grow up in a world safe from fear. Their lives will already be difficult enough as it is. We owe it to them to make sure there's a world in which they can be born into."

"But what if Petra and I can't get the masking formula right? And we haven't had a chance to find something to counteract the Lycan poison yet."

Joshua crossed his arms over his chest. "Whether or not you have the formula ready, I will be joining the others."

"But that's suicide."

"No. That's doing my duty. Defending the weak against a force that sees them as nothing but a speck of dust."

Alice darted a glance towards Petra. Petra was relieved when Alice turned back to Joshua, not realizing she was paying far too much attention to the goings-on in the lab. "Are you going to tell her?"

"You know I've been forbidden. How's it going to help Petra knowing the truth? I need to protect her and Kaitlyn. This is not their fight, but they will get caught up in it if we don't put a stop to it."

Petra paused the audio. She couldn't listen anymore. A hand clutched around her heart and squeezed. Joshua was fully prepared to give his life. For what? She was still trying to piece together the meaning of the cryptic conversation. The thought of him heading into a fight against a foe that had a distinct advantage terrified her.

Should I confront them with what I know?

She groaned inwardly. They would deny it and I have no proof.

Petra stared at the files and printouts on her desk. What had them so scared? Joshua, Daniel, and who knows who else were willing to lay their lives down to defend others. From who?

Why aren't they going to the authorities if they know who's behind the slaughter of those people in New York State?

She stilled. Lycan. The poison came from something called a Lycan. The name rang a bell, but right now she couldn't for the life of her remember why. Petra clicked the unmute button and continued to listen to the conversation. They knew who had killed those people... Elise. And she sounded like a right bitch.

Who was this woman and why was she killing innocent people?

Too many questions were crowding her mind. Each time, all that floated to the forefront of her mind was Joshua's corpse, his body ravaged by the poison of these 'Lycan'. It terrified her. Her hands shook as she rummaged through her desk drawer.

I need a fucking cigarette.

After not finding any, she slammed her draw shut. "God damn it!"

Joshua and Alice's head swung around in surprise.

How the hell did they hear that? The door was closed and they stood on the far side of the lab.

She met Joshua's concerned gaze and her chest ached. She'd just gotten to know him.

Let's face it. You want to know a lot more about him. Spy or not. And the stupid man is about to go off and get himself killed.

She held onto the edge of her desk and pushed her chair back. Think. Think.

Trying not to hyperventilate at the twilight zone situation she now found herself in, she replayed Alice's conversation with Joshua in her mind. Now more than ever, she had to work out how to counteract the poison. Quashing the rising panic, she took a couple of deep calming breaths before standing. There was also the matter of this masking thing. That would need to be sorted as well.

No pressure then.

A sheen of perspiration erupted across her forehead as she headed to the door. Daniel, Parker, Alice, Joshua and the others had frustrated the hell out of her. They kept her in the dark every step of the way. Brick walls were erected on a daily basis. She would bet her life that this had to do with the extra gene they all had. And that included her.

She recalled Joshua's words and frowned. Why would he feel the need to defend Kaitlyn and her? What's the FBI agent got to do with all this.

Not suire why, she trusted they were the good guys in all this. She trusted her gut, and her gut told her they needed her help. Later, she would ask questions, and this time she would demand answers.

Right now? Right now she had less than twenty-four hours to find a way to even the odds of whatever mess Joshua and the others were about to walk into.

Fuck! Where are my cigarettes when I need them?

❧ ⚛ ✺ ≋ ≋ ≋ ≋ ≋ ✺ ⚛ ❧

📎A/N. Well it looks like Daniel and the others have no option but to take Elise and her army on. I am not fancying their odds at this stage. 

... and isn't Petra a smart cookie listening in without Joshua and Alice's knowledge. Hopefully she'll be able to help with getting a werewolf strength masking tea ready in time.

I am doing an a course at night so don't have as much time to write. Next chapter should be out at the end of the weekend - early next week.

Till then, take care.

❤ ℳ