"So, what's wrong with the half-brother? Is he psychotic? An evil overlord? Does he beat his pack members into submission?" Ruby questioned, she wasn't sure why a feeling of dread had settled in the pit of her stomach. But if Topher's half-brother was actually evil he would have made his presence known sooner, wouldn't he? Ruby thought it odd to have an evil next-door neighbour without actually having met or even heard about him until now.

"Nothing exactly, we just don't get along and never have. I don't know if he feels less loved than I was but he's always had it out for me so we've come to an uneasy truce where our pack members don't set foot in each other's territories. It makes things easier for everyone, as there are clear boundary markers. Where are you going?" Topher asked when Ruby suddenly turned and began walking out of his home, if Topher was too scared of setting off another pack war then he wasn't going to willingly cross the border that ran between the two pack territories. Ruby, on the other hand, had no issues with it and climbed into Ben's car before pulling out of Topher's place.

Ruby wasn't sure exactly where she was going, but when she glanced in the rearview mirror she spotted Topher and Hollis following in his truck not too far behind her. She couldn't help but roll her eyes, especially when she reached the Clearview bridge and the two pulled over to watch from the other side.

Pulling over on the other side, Ruby waited to see what would happen.

She figured there would be guards posted not too far from the border entry points and wondered briefly why she hadn't been across before. Quickly her thoughts turned to Jonah and she wondered why he hadn't investigated the pack, were they not protective of their boundaries?

Deciding to head over to Jonah's employment she parked up and waited to see if anything happened or anyone came looking to see what she wanted.

It didn't take long before Jonah's boss came out to bang against the window, she knew that Topher's scent was on the vehicle. She had made sure to park it somewhere that people would need to touch it to walk around.

"What are you doing here? You know you're in the wrong pack territory?" It only took a moment for Ruby to realize that she had come face to face with Topher's brother...he was Jonah's boss? It reminded Ruby of the remarks Jonah had made about his boss when they'd first arrived, he was a hard man. Quiet and serious too, it made her wonder what or why he and Topher didn't get along.

"No, I'm in the right territory. I'm looking for two teenagers, Rebecca and Jude. Have you seen them around? They've gone rogue." Ruby seemed to have caught the guy off guard, he hadn't been expecting her to brush off his 'menacing' act to quickly. But Ruby could tell he wasn't the bad guy that she had assumed and smiled at him quickly before climbing out of the vehicle.

"I didn't give you permission to enter my pack territory. Why are you here?" For a quick minute, he gave her a panicked look before covering it quickly.

"I didn't ask your permission, now. Have you seen either teen or not?" Ruby crossed her arms across her chest and waited for the guy to start playing along. Though he tried to appear tough she figured he was fair and decent, even if he didn't want her to see that side of her.

"Why should I tell you?" Rolling her eyes and holding in a groan, Ruby levelled a stare at the guy that could wither grass.

"Listen, what's your name? I'm not part of Topher's pack, I live on that side of town but I'm here on business. Now tell me what I need to know or I'll put a few calls in and have your alpha king give you a direct order...is that what it'll take?" Ruby hated having to pull rank, but when it came to stupid alpha males that needed showing that they weren't boss...well, she wasn't above it.

"I doubt you could." The challenge had been set so Ruby fished her cell phone out of her back pocket at made a few quick phone calls before hanging up.

When the guy's phone rang, he looked down to check the number. Ruby knew that I was the unexpected as his eyes went round like saucers as he answered, his Adam's apple bobbed nervously as he nodded and answered questions before hanging up. She gave him a moment to compose himself before saying anything, maybe he was in deep shock that she actually managed to pull off something like that.

"I don't know how you did it, but welcome to my pack territory. I'm alpha Dane Fysher and this is the home of the Clearview river pack. We can speak more freely inside," not for a second did Ruby suspect that Dane would bring harm to her, after being given what she assumed had been a direct order his demeanour changed completely.

"Nice place you have here," Ruby commented as she walked into the body shop she assumed he owned.

"Don't be an ass, I know it's not as good as Topher's pack home but this is the best I got. Okay?" Ruby was taken aback by the sudden way in which Dane defended his pack home.

"Yeah listen, I'm not here to make comparisons between yours and your brother's packs. All I want is answers, you're the one that wanted to be difficult about it. So, have you seen either of them?" Ruby asked again as she followed Dane inside the building into what she assumed was his office.

She watched as he sat down at his cluttered desk before offering her a manky looking chair to sit in.

"I'll stand, it's a yes or no answer that will take you all of two seconds to mutter." From the smug smile, he gave her Ruby knew he was going to be difficult.

"The king said I had to be nice, that I had to answer your questions but he didn't say how long before I had to answer them." Something snapped within Ruby and she launched herself over Dane's desk, wrapped her hands around his throat and squeezed hard.

By the look on his face that was the last thing, he'd been expecting and began thrashing around like she weighed a ton. Letting one arm go Ruby punched Dane in the side of the face before he threw her off of him, her back hit his desk and knocked the wind out of her.

"He didn't mention you being a minx," Dane added grumpily as he righted his chair, pulled Ruby up into a standing position then rubbed the side of his face. She had landed a good hit, one that would likely bruise later on but at least he might take her seriously now.

"Fine, fine! Becka and Jude came this way a day or two ago, they were looking for shelter but I told them I couldn't. They were running from Topher, said he was the biggest ass on that side of the river. I agreed with them, gave them some food and told them to move on through, last I saw was them at my packs boundary. They were headed towards the swamp and then beyond to another pack." Ruby swore when the swamp was mentioned, likely someone or something was lurking in that area but she couldn't be sure until she got hold of Rebecca and Jude to make sure they were both alive and okay.

"What? What's wrong? And why do you smell like Jonah? First, your car has Topher's pack scent all over it and now I can smell Jonah all over you too." It was at Dane's questions that Ruby froze, she realized this was the first contact any of her team had made.

"Jonah's my brother, half-brother like you are to Topher. Dad didn't realize he had a kid, but when my mom died Jonah magically appeared and now we're here so that dad can begin bonding with his oldest kid...what?" Ruby realized too late that her cover story was useless, she hadn't introduced herself to Dane like she had done to Topher and Dane could obviously tell she was lying.

"Fine, Jonah and I are part of a larger team of magical folk that are here on business to monitor Samson town and figure out who or what is behind a prophecy that was foretold years ago. A woman was killed on the other side of the swamp, not far from Topher's pack home. No one knows who she was but her remains have been taken back to Mirithia where they'll be buried." Though her second story sounded like fantasy Dane seemed to accept that better than the cover story, which amused Ruby to no end.

"And you think Rebecca and Jude haven't run away, that they've gone to whoever the responsible party is to get revenge on Topher? You knew before I did that those two didn't come here seeking shelter," Ruby let Dane think that she hadn't actually but now that he'd voiced it their actions made absolute sense.

"I think that Rebecca is out to bring havoc down on Topher's pack. Though pack life can be brutal I don't think she's prepared for or understands that the life of a lone wolf is far worse." Dane nodded his head in understanding, which made Ruby wonder what else he'd been through.

"I'm not here to broker a truce between you and Topher, that is something only brothers can work out. But while we're here and everyone in this town is in imminent danger we need you to work with us as well." Ruby frowned when she saw the stubborn set of Dane's jaw, he folded his arms across his chest and looked at Ruby expectantly.

"No. I'm not getting my pack involved in this, we're going to sit over here and mind our own business. Topher has never done anything for us so why should I endanger my pack members to help him?" Ruby rolled her eyes again, stubborn and stupid alphas never made a good combo, she could see why Topher had succeeded where Dane had failed.

"If you do nothing your pack will be in danger regardless, this is not as black and white as you think." Standing from where she'd been sitting, Ruby turned and left the office. If Dane wasn't willing to help his brother when she was less willing to keep an eye on him and ensure his pack was okay...but that wasn't the way of a protector.

Ruby realized what was happening and shook her head, she was getting far too attached to Topher and his pack. She needed to step back and assume her role as a protector, not a friend. The last time she had become too familiar with someone they'd ended up dead, Kenny had been removed from front-line work and Mali had dumped her.

Climbing back into her vehicle, Ruby gave one more glance towards Dane's office and was slightly surprised to see him leaning again the door to his shop, watching her.

She drove straight back to Topher's home, he and Hollis hadn't been waiting for her. Ruby was surprised to see her team standing in Topher's lounge and kitchen areas, when she walked into Topher's office she stopped dead in her tracks. The atmosphere was absolutely different to anything she'd experienced so far, there was a deep all-engulfing sadness hanging in the room.

"Elsie, bring your team in. Everyone else wait outside...Hollis you too." The order made both Ruby and Hollis frown, what had happened that would have the alpha send his beta from the room. Though Hollis looked as if he wanted to argue he merely nodded and closed the door behind him.

It was then that Ruby realized the sadness hadn't been coming from others in the room, it had been coming straight from Topher.

As soon as the door clicked shut Ruby motioned for her team to sit down, she could tell this discussion was going to be heavy and long. The last thing she wanted was for anyone to grow agitated and throw something they didn't need to, she also wanted to make sure she could reach anyone before it started.

"Your people found Jude, his heart was cut out just outside of Dane's pack territory. I'm assuming you've spoken to Dane, what does he have to say?" Ruby tried very hard to stay calm, the last thing she wanted to be was the messenger between warring alphas.

"Like I told your brother, I'm not going to act as the go-between. If you want answers then you're going to have to see him yourself, but my observation of him is that he isn't the kind of alpha to order or carry out something of this nature. So either he has a vengeful pack member or..." Ruby was cut off by a snarl from Topher, the alternative was that his sister was responsible for her boyfriend's death and the thought obviously didn't sit pretty with him.

"Rebecca is not like that! It had to be Dane, I won't sit back and let him pick off my most vulnerable members." Ruby stood firm when Topher went to stand, she caught Mali's eye. She knew he would be ready to rip the alpha to bits if it came to stopping an all-out war.

"We're not going to allow you to do that..." Again Ruby was cut off but this time by Topher launching himself over his desk ready to rip Ruby apart. In the blink of an eye the usually placid, friendly alpha had transformed into his wolf and was halfway across the room before Jonah managed to catch him mid-air.

Ruby walked close to Topher, careful not to get too close. He was still enraged and was not going to listen to any reasons as to why he was being treated in such a manner.

"I have been kind to you up until this point Topher, as I'm sure you have been to me. But I'm not going to let you lay blame at someone else's feet without you hearing what could be the truth. Loyalty and love are clouding your judgment, I can see that clearly. But you need to know that Rebecca and Jude did go to Dane, they did ask to join his pack. He turned them down as he knew what that would mean, he gave them supplies and sent them on their way. They were heading to the next pack over the swamp...do you want to know why? Because they wanted to bring destruction on their alpha, they wanted their former pack destroyed. It wasn't Dane that killed Jude, it was Rebecca and you know why. I want answers Topher and I want them now." Ruby let that sink in, she took a few deep, calming breaths as she felt herself grow anxious with each word she spoke.

"The human woman killed was an experiment, wasn't she? She served no other purpose than to see what would happen, right? There is something bigger at stake here, namely 'him' and I want to know what 'he' is and how 'he' is going to impact not only this pack but the surrounding area. There was a reason you encouraged Sevyn and I to research the swamp and I want to know, what the f*ck is in there that requires human sacrifices?" Ruby had worked herself up so much before realizing it, she was breathing heavily. Things had slowly been making sense without her having all the information, a tidbit here and another there was building to a large picture with huge blank areas.

Ruby nodded and Jonah let Topher down, by now he was calm and listening to every word she had to say and with every word his anger diminished and was replaced with something else entirely. Guilt? Ruby wasn't sure but once Topher was set back down behind his desk he transformed and sat in his seat.

"She was...I didn't make the connection till a few days later." Topher sat back behind his desk, righting things that he had bumped in his need to hurt Ruby. The worried expression on his face set unease in the pit of Ruby's stomach as she stood, waiting for his explanation.