Alexander Lykos

*"Did all of you just see that? She did not give our position away!"*

*'It could be a trick, Jared."*

Their voices continued to overlap in my head, but all I could think about was what the other girl said... what treatment was Sapphire being forced to undergo? My heart started to race as thought of Damien forcing her to become just a specimen for him to test his concoctions on... he might not kill her, but this could be an attempt to break her.

The sound of ragged breaths caused me to turn my attention to Amelia, whose chest was heaving as she hyperventilated. I immediately knelt at her side, Angel and Jared soon joining me as we huddled around her.

*"Amelia?"*

I was not sure if she was even processing what we said as she continued to stare at the spot where the woman called Mia once stood, her eyes never wavering as Angel stroked her back. Jared tried to turn her head to face us, but she resisted... the ground beneath her feet disturbed as she pawed at the ground.

*"Amelia, we can't stay here--"*

*"He locked them away like animals, keeping them alive for slaughter... my pride."*

Angel let out a small sob as she rested her head against Amelia's side. Jared and I exchanged a look before turning our heads to watch our surroundings... we were sitting ducks if we remained here. Mia might have not revealed our position in order to lure us into a false sense of security, to get us to lower our guard down before she alerted the warriors of our position.

I shifted my position so that I knelt right in front of her face, causing her to snarl. I paid no heed to her hostility and cupped her face with my hands.

*"We have to move, Amelia... remember what I said. We are no good to them captured or dead."*

She closed her eyes at my words, swallowing hard as she forced herself to believe in what I said... going against every instinct in her body as an Alpha. Her eyes remained closed for mere moments before they opened and sought mine, burning like a bright blue flame.

*"I also remembered that you made a promise that you would bring them home... be sure to heed it as well."*

*"There was never a second were I thought of going against it."*

Angel and Jared stood in silence as Amelia and I continued to stare each other down, searching the other's face for any sign of betrayal... neither of us yielding to be the first one to break eye contact. Both of us were Alphas, and even though we might be friends, the presence of our egos still remained.

I did not want to yield, but I had to put the lives of my people above my pride, so I turned my back to her and ventured forward, the soft padding paws and feet being the only indication that they were following me.

We continued to move closer to the stronghold, staying close enough to the edge that we could have a clear view of the building, but deep enough in the forest so that we could not be easily seen. Our progress was slow as we had to keep stopping to avoid being seen by any of Damien's patrols, dousing oursleves with another vial of the scent-maskers if they stayed too long around our area, sniffing the air as if they had caught our scent.

Amelia took over my position as the lead, directing us the back of the stronghold where a large cluster of rocks stood. She lowered her head to sniff around the area, pawing at the ground before turning back to us.

*"I cannot believe it! They have left it open!"*

We crouched down and huddled around her.

*"I thought you said that this could only be opened by the two people at the same time, one in front and one behind the door."*

*"I did, Jared, but look!"*

She pawed at a small cluster of weeds on the ground, which continue to sway after her paw had left, even though there was no wind.

*"The air is coming from the passage way, and this could only be the result of the door being opened... they did not close it."*

I bit my lip at the boon that had been thrown our way... it seemed too easy.

*"Amelia, you told us that only you and Sapphire knew of this passage, and if the door is open... should that not raise suspicion that Damien's forces have discovered it?"*

*"The Elders knew about this passage as well, Xander... there is a high chance that they might have tried to escape through it when Damien invaded Blackwater, but were ambushed in the forest and slaughtered?*"

I could feel the excitement dripping from her voice, she wanted to charge in to save her pride... throwing away every red flag that had been blatantly waved before us. Angel and Jared seem to feel the same as they traded uncertain looks.

*"Amelia--"*

*"I know what you are thinking, Angel, but what other choice do we have to enter the stronghold? Yes this might be a trap, but there is also a chance that it is not! Our other option is to try sneaking in through the upper levels where it is crawling with guards, so please by all means, be my guest and charge right in. Use the front door, why don't you?"*

Angel snarled at Amelia's tone, leaning threateningly towards her. Amelia's lips curled back as well as she crouched down. My jaw clenched as I watched the two of them before grabbing Amelia by the scruff of her neck, with Jared doing the same with Angel, pulling her back so that she fell on her bottom.

*"The both of you, that's enough! Angel is right that this is extremely risky, but, Amelia is right too. We do not have many options available in front of us, and so far... this is the best one we have."*

My sister bared her teeth at me before turning away while Amelia sat on her haunches, smugness radiating from her.

*"We will go in one by one, so that in case it truly is a trap, the rest can escape to get help. Do you all understand?"*

Jared and Amelia both responded while Angel still sat with her back turned towards me.

*"I said, do you understand?"*

My voice took a more authoritative tone this time, forcing Angel to turn her body around.

*"Yes, Alpha."*

*"Thank you."*

She gave me a withering look, before Jared nudged at her shoulder, the both of them moving to disassemble the rock formation.

*"The two of you should save your strength."*

Despite the tension in the air, Angel and Jared turned to Amelia, confusion clear on their faces. Amelia gave a small huff before walking towards the rocks, sniffing at each individual one before stopping at one particularly small rock.

*"Dig this one out."*

Jared raised his eyebrow, but did so nonetheless. We watched in awe as the entire rock formation crumbled right before our eyes as soon as the rock was removed from its position.

*"It was a poetic effort by our Elders... to remind Sapphire and I that even the weakest members could cause the entire mighty Blackwater Pack to crumble... a reminder of sorts to never fail them."*

It took us a moment to recover from our shock before we stood in front of entrance, the dark passage way eerily staring back at us... a long winding void of darkness with no hint of light at the end.

*"There is a steep decline as it leads you further underground, and will be very dark, so watch your step--"*

*"I will go first."*

The three of them turned around to face me, their voices overlapping each other as they protested.

*"Are you insane, Xander? You are in the most danger if caught?"*

*"My pride is down there too."*

*"You promised Mother and Father that you would come home to them... safe and whole."*

I held up my hand for them to stop, and my mind soon became quiet once more.

*"I know of all the risk, but I made promises to so many people... I am going in first and there is really nothing you can do to stop me."*

Angel let out a laugh.

*"I probably could, Xander--"*

*"And risk attracting all of Damien's soldiers, I don't think so."*

Angel snarled at me, but I walked up to place a hand on her cheek.

*"I will come home, but what kind of Alpha would I be to send others into danger without going in myself?"*

She held my hand in place for a second before letting it go, a sign of her reluctant permission. I stroked her cheek one last time before walking towards Jared, the both of us grabbing the others forearm before letting go. I crouched before Amelia who placed her paw on my shoulder, I gave her a small smile before standing up and staring into the dark abyss.

*"I will mindlink you all if it is safe, if not, I want all of you to run back to the clearing before heading back to Shadow Mountain at the first chance you get. Do not try to come and save me. That is an order."*

Angel and Jared growled as they lowered their heads in submission, while Amelia stared defiantly into my eyes.

*"For everyone's sake, Amelia, please."*

Her lips twitched as she slowly lowered her head. I lowered mine in thanks.

I picked up my bag before distributing most of the scent-maskers to Jared and Angel, who stored it into their own bags. I gave them all one last smile before walking through the entrance.

The passageway was dark and cold, the musky air barely hiding the scent of stale blood... I had to refrain from growling as I recognised the scent... what monsters were the Elders of Blackwater.

My claws dug into the wall as I tried to keep my footing against the steep decline. The darkness blanketed the entire passageway that I could not even clearly see the floor or my feet, taking smaller steps instead to make sure I did not trip on anything. I had long lost the light from the entrance, and my eyes longed for it... I could not imagine what Sapphire and Amelia had gone through as children, being forced down this passageway since who knows how young.

My musing was interrupted as I spotted a small dot of light, relief flooding my body as I walked closer to it. However, that relief soon turned to dread as I saw an outline of a hand, and the sound of glass shattering bounced off the walls of stone. I turned to move away, but only made it a few steps before my body came crashing down... my legs no longer responding to the commands of my brain.

*"Run!"*

*"Xander, what happened--"

I started to breathe heavily as my mindlink went silent, Angel's voice disappearing from my mind completely, remaining silent no matter how much I screamed for her.

I tried to move my arm so that I could crawl away, but my arms defied my as well. My heart pounded against my chest as I laid there, face first on the ground, powerless to do anything.

My heart froze as I heard the sound of boots echoing from behind me, a growl instinctively leaving my lips as I registered his scent. A laugh rang through the narrow pathway as a soft glow drew closer.

My growl grew louder as I felt hands turning me over, the bright light from the torches caused me to turn away. A hand gripped the side of my face, forcing me to stare into the light, forcing me to look as his vile figure drew closer.

"My Queen is going to love my next performance."