📎A/N. Hello my lovelies. I hope you are all safe where ever you are in the world. I just realised, it's been a while since I did an update of the world map. I need to dash off to work, but I will post an updated list with the next chapter.

Don't forget to vote.

Take care,

❤ ℳ

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"You're sure they're mates? I don't mean in the way those Brits refer to a friend either," asked Simon, one of Daniel's betas and close friend.

Parker suppressed a smirk at the low rumble from Daniel's chest. "For the third time," he said through gritted teeth. "Yes. They. Are. Mates."

Simon still didn't look convinced. He continued to stare out the large glass patio doors where Murphy and Kaitlyn were sparing. "I can think of a dozen things I'd do with my mate after a near death experience. Hand to hand combat would be number... let me think... oh yeah, that's right, it wouldn't even rate."

His face scrunched in confusion, and he opened his mouth to speak.

"I suspect if you ask that question one more time, it will be you doing a round with Daniel if you're not careful," Parker warned the beta.

Simon shook his head. "But you'd never guess by looking at them. I mean what Werewolf finds his second chance mate and acts like he does? I've not even seen them touch. That's not normal...and I'm not talking about what they are doing now... has anyone seen any form of skin contact that indicated they were like, you know, mates."

She raised and eyebrow. "You're just upset that you lost money on the pool you had going on when we thought Murphy wasn't going to pull through."

Simon, had the decency to look contrite. "Who me? I would never do anything like that."

His over-exaggerated innocent expression did not fool Parker, and she laughed. "That's because Lyssa found out and stopped you before it got out of control."

Daniel finished signing the mound of paperwork Simon had set in front of him and placed the pen on top of the stack. "Make sure you get these contracts lodged, and I want the back to backs out to the suppliers by the end of the day."

Simon cringed at a blow Kaitlyn landed on Murphy and tore himself away from the window. "How does she know those techniques? Only enforcer training covers that move."

Daniel ignored his beta's question and changed the subject. "Is everything prepared for Alphas' Abraham and Tamas?"

Simon nodded. "The humidity is steady at 45 degrees and the new bio-locks are up and running."

"Do we know what he wants a secure temperature controlled room for?" Parker asked.

"Tamas didn't say what his grandfather wanted to store, just that it was something that required delicate handling," said Daniel.

Parker twisted her engagement ring around her finger as she considered the possibilities on why Alpha Abraham insisted on a flying visit to Colorado. The subject wasn't in doubt. The phone call from the current Alpha of the Texas pack, Abraham's grandson, Tamas, came not soon after they had sent copies of the likeness of the creature that had attacked Murphy.

It had taken nearly a day, but Kaitlyn and Murphy had worked with Nora, who had produced a detailed image that was as stunning as it was chilling. There was no doubt Nora was an artist, but even she would have preferred not to have crafted a monster that was responsible for such destruction. Parker was thankful that Kaitlyn was there. Had she not, Nora probably would not have lasted ten minutes with the gruff Werewolf. Murphy had the ability to frighten anything with a pulse. Parker wasn't sure if it was his staunch demeanor or his eye color, which she had to admit was unsettling—after all, how many people with pitch black iris's did you meet?

So why is he insisting on traveling all this way at his age to tell us something that he couldn't have over the phone? Wondered Parker as her mind drifted back to the imminent visit.

While Abraham was still referred to as 'Alpha', it was in name only. His grandson, Tamas, had led their pack for the past five decades. However, due to his age, knowledge and diplomacy skills, he still held a seat on the council and continued to be referred to by his former title.

Knowing she would need to wait for the answers, Parker focused on things she could control. Right now she needed to make sure her team was on top of monitoring social media, the news wire as well as police departments around the nation for any further creature sightings. One coyote attack was plausible...two, and the authorities and public would start asking questions.

***

By the time the convoy of dark SUV's arrived, Parker's team had identified at least a dozen viable sightings around the mid-US. As yet, nothing had been confirmed, and none of the reports had photographic evidence. This wouldn't last. Their only consolation was that the areas were secluded and the reports had been from farmers who tended to use two-way radios, rather than cell phones, on their vast properties.

"Are you sure I should be here?" Kaitlyn asked.

They had gathered in one of the large rooms attached to the Pack House that had been set up for small gatherings. Right now, it resembled a boardroom.

"I don't think you can get out of this now," Parker said as she rechecked her email.

Kaitlyn let out a low snort. "That's what I was afraid of."

The door opened, and they looked in anticipation towards it. Daniel and Murphy had instructed them to wait in the meeting room while they escorted the new arrivals. As expected, Alpha Abraham came through the door first. While a lot taller than her, the elderly alpha was stooped, which made him appear shorter. His advanced years showed that old age came to everyone, even Werewolves.

His cane tapped against the wooden floor as he made his way towards her. Abraham pulled the Fedora hat from his head to reveal thinning white hair. He smiled warmly as he made a slow bow of his head. "Parker my dear, it is always a pleasure."

Parker placed her arm in the crook of his, and guided him towards the table so he could be seated. He was looking a little frailer than their previous meeting. "The pleasure is all mine. I hope your trip wasn't too taxing?"

He patted her hand and chuckled. "Don't you start. I've had Tamas and the rest of those worry warts walking on broken glass the whole way here. I'm old, not disabled."

Once seated, Abraham maneuvered his walking stick between his legs, placed both hands on the knob and leaned forward. With purpose, he scanned the room until his eyes fell on Kaitlyn. He tilted his head and continued to stare at her. Before Parker or any of the others could make the introductions, Abraham said, "So you're the new one the fuss is all about?"

The room fell quiet. Parker, not sure what to say, glanced across at Kaitlyn. Instead of cowering at the undisguised scrutiny, Kaitlyn stood at her full height and met the Alpha's gaze head on, chin up. Parker had to give her credit, they were in a room full of testosterone and inhuman strength, but it didn't seem to faze the F.B.I. Agent.

Abraham chuckled and twisted around to the others who had just entered. "I like this one. She has chutzpah." He turned back to Kaitlyn. "You have your grandfather in you, and I can see you are quite capable of keeping our rebel in line. You will do just fine."

Kaitlyn's eyes darted to Murphy. "Thank you... I think," she said.

Parker felt, rather than saw Daniel come up behind her. His arm came around to rest on her waist.

The elderly Werewolf continued speaking. "I've been around long enough to know this little rash of our race finding their mates in humans is not yet over, and it will cause a backlash you need to be prepared for."

Daniel stiffened. "What do you mean?"

"It is not unheard of to find a human mate." He shrugged his shoulders. "It happens; has for hundreds of years, and was our only saving grace when we were threatened with extinction. What is rare is the cluster. Within a matter of months, we have had at least half a dozen matings with humans. If this is a repeating pattern of our history, that number will double before this is over." Abraham let out a sigh and put more of his weight on his cane. "It will not sit well with those among us who are not comfortable with mixed matings."

Murphy let out a low growl from deep in his chest. "We haven't been xenophobic in a long time."

"Unfortunately, that's no longer true. There has been a growing undercurrent over the past few years," said Daniel. "It doesn't help that we have a growing unaligned population who chose to leave the safety of their pack; nor that we have a newly formed pack of turned Werewolves."

Murphy was visibly shocked at Daniel's admission. This was also news to Parker. She was aware of the unease within the council to leave the Mafia Werewolves to their own devices but under the watchful eye of the council. However, the rest of the information had come as a shock.

"The storm will rage and pass; you just need to weather it," said Abraham. "However, I am not so confident of us surviving the tsunami bearing down on us."

He glanced down at the copy of the creature's likeness that had been left on the table and stared at it for a few moments without saying a word. "When I saw the drawing, I think I came close to having what humans refer to as a 'heart' attack."

Abraham pushed the printout towards the middle of the table. Instead of letting the paper go, his fingers rested on the paper as he continued to regard the image. The spotted skin on his hands were wrinkled and thin; blood vessels stood out as if fighting for its life. His hand, like his face, looked old and tired, yet soft.

He sighed and sat back, both hands now rested on the intricate knob of his walking cane again. "It's an image I haven't seen in an eon, one I never imagined I would see again."

Abraham nodded to his grandson. Alpha Tamas reached for the package they had placed on the sideboard earlier and placed it in front of the 'in name only' Alpha.

With care, Tamas carefully peeled away the corners of the thick material to reveal the oldest book Parker had ever seen. The leather cover was worn and threadbare. Whatever words had been burnt into it was illegible, faded with time. The thick, yellowed pages were rough; handmade at a time paper could only be afforded by the rich.

He stood back to allow his grandfather access. Weathered fingers, as leathery and creased as the book, turned the pages until Abraham stopped at the one he was after. He studied the page as they crowded closer to the table with a sense of anticipation. Whatever was going on in the old man's mind wasn't good if his expression was anything to go by.

Abraham took a deep breath, turned the book in their direction, and pushed it towards them.

Parker felt rather than heard the sharp intake of breath. In brown ink, faded over the years, was the creature from the sketch. While it wasn't as detailed or as realistic, there was no doubt they were one and the same. She alternated her gaze between the two drawings separated by hundreds of years.

Abraham's image, while crude and not as detailed as the more recent one, could not be mistaken for anything else. This was not the first time Werewolves had seen this creature.

"I assume you have a reason for not coming forward before?" Daniel asked. His voice was clipped and reflected his displeasure. It wouldn't sit well that a member of the council had held back vital information.

Abraham narrowed his eyes, and they flicked across the table. "Don't get snotty with me boy. I may be old and frail, but I am still your elder. Until I saw the drawing, I held out hope it wasn't true. What happened in Wisconsin didn't fit what I remember of them."

"Who exactly is 'them'?"

Abrahams lips thinned as he considered the question. "They were called Lycan. There never has been, or ever will be, a creature more cursed than those poor souls. They were slaves to the full moon and unable to control the beast within."

"Where did they come from?"

He shrugged. "We never knew how they evolved. They were not great in number, but they were great in their capability to destroy anything that got in their path."

Abraham reached for the glass of water which had been left on the table. Tamas quickly pushed it closer to him. After taking a long drink of the cool liquid, he put the glass back on the table and said, "Legend has it, our race was formed from a rib of Adam and heart of a gray wolf. Lycan, on the other hand, were fashioned from a blend of man and dire wolf. Unlike us, they had no control over their change. What's more, their form was closer to beast than man—or wolf. They were what nightmares originated from."

"If they had no control, does that mean their transformation could happen at any time?" asked Daniel.

"No. Lycan's only changed on a full moon; and not by choice." He pointed towards the image. "As you can see from their likeness, they were a hybrid of man and animal. When in this form they had no control over the beast. The biggest tragedy was they were never aware of what their beast persona did."

Daniel pulled Parker close to him as if subconsciously protecting her from their new threat. He asked, "How come we haven't heard of it before—either from our legends or humans. Surely something like that running rampant across the earth would be noticed?"

"To try and stop their rampages the Lycan's family would chain or lock them away before the full moon. Some managed to last years this way, others went mad with the destruction they woke to the following day. The rest, found a way to end their lives—or took themselves off to isolated regions where they could inflict the least damage. It was the only time in our history where even we feared for our lives."

"How many were there?" asked Murphy.

"Enough. Unlike us, Lycan's lifespan mimicked that of their human side. They were also male. I've never heard of an instance of a woman Lycan."

Murphy frowned. "Does that mean they turned their victims?"

"No," said Abraham shaking his head. "The poison from their claws was designed to kill—not turn."

"How did they perpetuate their species?" Daniel asked.

"Lycan's would pass their genetic material to their children. Any males they produced had a high likelihood of developing into a Lycan at puberty."

"So what happened to them?"

"Somewhere between the humans and us, they were eradicated. The biggest issue, at the time, was how to get near them without coming into contact with their claws," said Abraham.

Murphy touched his bandaged arm. "I can see that being a problem. How did you?"

"The legend goes that it was by pure accident our ancestors discovered their Achilles heel. This leveled the playing field somewhat."

Abraham shifted in his chair to make himself comfortable.

They all unconsciously leaned forward, holding out for the answer.

He glanced up at the expectant face and blinked twice as if trying to work out why they were hovering over him.

Tamas tapped his grandfather on the shoulder. "You were telling us about their weakness?"

"So I was," said Abraham. He cleared his throat. "Silver. While silver did not kill them, it slowed them down or stopped them in their tracks. Even the slightest amount caused them pain."

Silver? "Alice found silver in Murphy's test," said Parker.

Kaitlyn leaned forward. "Didn't you say that the one that attacked you seemed agitated?" she asked Murphy.

He nodded.

Kaitlyn began to pull at her earlobe.

"What are you thinking?" Parker asked.

Kaitlyn turned back to Murphy. "You mention that wherever you went in Nebraska, the local's were hoping the seeding was going to work?" After he confirmed, Kaitlyn turned to Parker. "I know why that..." she trailed off. "Undocumented alien was acting strange."

Kaitlyn then addressed the rest of the room. "Weather modification is used in some dry states to make rain through cloud seeding. Planes drop silver iodide canisters into small cloud formations to encourage precipitation. There's been a lot of questions on whether there will be any long-term damage to the environment or to people in the catchment areas due to the increase in silver that is present in the artificial rain. We know it was raining heavily when the undocumented alien attacked. I think the trace amounts in that rain was enough to make it back off."

"That would suggest we are dealing with Lycans," said Abraham.

Daniel gently closed the ancient book. "How were they disposed of?" he asked.

"The humans employed three methods; we used two. Burnt, beheading or stake through the heart." Abraham shuddered. "I could never work out why humans took such joy in barbecuing everything and then watching it burn. What I don't understand is how this is possible. I saw my last Lycan as a child. They were extinct. How is it nearly a millennia has passed, and they are again walking the earth."

He fidgeted with his walking stick then looked to his grandson. Alpha Tamas looked questioningly at Abraham. From their intense expressions, Parker could only surmise they were deep in telepathic conversation.

"What's the problem?" asked Daniel.

Abraham paused and looked up at the Alpha Commander. "Are you sure that it was Lycans that attacked the Ethiopian pack?"

"Yes. The prints are the same as the one that attacked Murphy. Why?"

"In their hybrid form, they were barbaric; without a shred of sanity. They didn't work as a pack. Had they, we would never have defeated them. Even family units did not hunt together. Each gave the other a wide berth," he paused. "The attack on the pack the other day just doesn't sound like them. The one that Murphy encountered does, however, and its appearance coincides with a full moon. The other doesn't."

Daniel flipped through the book as Murphy moved closer to scan the pages as they turned. "Does this tell us how much silver we need to bring one down?" Murphy asked.

Abraham nodded. "A couple of passages talk about how they soaked nets and ropes in silver. The higher the content, the greater the effect. I will translate it and give you the instructions."

"We know how to weaken them," said Daniel as he raked his long fingers through his dark hair. "But the bigger issues is none of that helps if we don't know where they are or how to find them."

"It would help if we knew where Elise was," said Alpha Tamas.

Daniel scratched the back of his neck. "I'm not sure that will help."

"Why ever not?" asked Abraham.

"He doesn't think she's behind this," said Murphy. "And, after thinking about it a little more, I would have to agree."

Abraham balked at the statement. "Frogs can spontaneously change gender; a dead race doesn't come back from the beyond. Someone must be behind it."

Parker had to agree. The Lycan's sudden re-emergence wasn't natural; and from Abraham's tale, it was clear that they were going to have a problem on their hands.

"We also need to work out why the different MO's. The profile of the thing that attacked Murphy matches the one in the book," Kaitlyn said as she pointed towards the ancient journal. "If it's true, it won't reappear until the next full moon. The other undocumented aliens are another story. Our focus needs to be on them."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"I suggest—" Daniel was cut off by two shrill beeps.

The distinctive sound of a text message rang in unison from different sides of the table. Daniel and Tamas looked at each other as they reached for their phones. A curse ripped from the Texas Alpha as he scanned the contents.

Daniel's expression turned dark and foreboding. He glanced towards Parker; she was shocked by the rage hidden behind his outward exterior. Dread filled her as they waited for either Alpha to speak.

"There's been another attack. This time Iowa," said Daniel.

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📎A/N. Well, so we know what we are dealing with... or do we? *cue the dramatic music* and it appears they have struck again! :-(

... And it is very interesting that there have been times within their history where there was a little spree of Werewolves finding their mates in the human population... I wonder who will be next? ;-)

It also appears that some of the Werewolves are aware of the undercurrent among the ranks, and the friction it is causing...

Don't forget to vote, and all comments and feedback appreciated. I have a long weekend this weekend ,so you won't need to wait long for the next chapter.  See you in a couple of days! :)

Take care,

❤ ℳ