"I want a new room mate."

I peer over my shoulder at a sour-faced brunette. "Hi Elena," I greet calmly. "Why do you want a new room mate?"

"Stella locked me out!" She exclaims and I hum, flipping through the papers in front of me. "Are you even listening, Alpha?"

"Why did she lock you out?" I ask.

"She was with that blonde kid," She says and with that, my attention is diverted to her fully.

"Adam?"

"Yeah, whatever. Who gives a shit about his name? The important part is that I wasn't able to-"

"-I'll make sure to speak to her and assign you a new room mate. Perhaps one of the other girls that you know."

Elena seems pleased with my response since she flashes a satisfied smirk with a curt, "thank you," before wandering back out of the kitchen. I shake my head at her retreating form.

Collecting the papers in my hands, I make my way to I know where Stella will be. To my surprise, she's missing from her usual spot out back on one of those benches. Instead, I find her where I thought to look second; with Adam.

I cock a brow at the scene, Stella propped on Adam's bed while the blonde haired-boy lounges in a chair directly across the bed. He has that same rubber football in his hands.

"Hey," I call from the doorway, papers now tucked under my arms.

Stella gazes at me calmly from the corner of her eye, "hey Ron."

"Hi Ronnie." Adam chimes as he tosses the ball back to her. They continue to pass the ball between them — like the way Cliff and Adam had been doing the day before. The sight is something quite to behold, I assure you. You know, seeing as Stella could barely stand the kid in the first place.

"Elena says you locked her out of the room last night," I drawl as I prompt Stella's side of the story. But she doesn't even object to it or shout her side of the story. Instead, she merely nods. "Okay..." I begin, confused. "Why?"

"Adam was over and Elena is annoying. Simple." She says as she shrugs.

"She wants a new room mate."

"So?" Stella rolls her eyes. "This isn't a freaking dorm. I'll just move to one of the rooms upstairs."

Adam swivels in his chair, his eyes shuffling awkwardly between the both of us. "Sorry, Ron. I didn't know about Elena."

"It's fine, Adam." I offer him a timid smile. "Come take a walk with me, Stella. I have documents you might like to see."

Stella pushes herself off the bed, offering a brief wave over her shoulder at Adam. He returns the gesture before hopping on his now unoccupied bed. I make sure to close the door behind me.

"What is it?" Stella questions as she eyes the papers under my arm. I pass them to her and we make a straight shoot for the exit door to the courtyard. It seems to be the only place you can find privacy now a days. Most of the boys have been glued to the TV downstairs since it arrived. "Are these the hunters locations?"

"Yeah," I answer when we reach the door. I'm greeted with the beams of the sun blaring down at us. I shield my eyes till we find shade under one of the trees and take a seat. "See how they're all concentrated in North Cali and Idaho?"

Stella nods. "No wonder I've never heard of them till now," she mumbles. "Any updates on Beckett?"

"No. He seems to have stayed put, but the whole thing is making me nervous. Especially now that I know more about the hunters. But he did send me a care package a few days ago."

Stella's expression twists into confusion. "What?" She questions, bewildered.

"He sent me all of my personal drawings and paintings. Torn, burned, and even X's scraped over Liam's eyes. Crazy shit." I explain, shaking my head as I recall the teary aftermath. Not to mention, Liam's successful attempts at bringing me into solace.

"What a dick," Stella mutters before skimming through the article I'd picked up back at Ben Farley's home. "Wow," she breathes as the picture of the man grinning with the dead wolf.

I scoff, glad to at least diverge from the previous discussion. "Yeah and just think of the stock they've got of my family's serum. Apparently, they've found a way to replicate it and shit."

"There's a good handful on the list. Have you sent this to neighboring packs?" She questions. I nod.

"Yes, they've assured me they're going to find a way to take care of it. That, at least, gives me a little comfort." I'd spoken to many Alphas from different packs over the span of the next days, seeing as Liam and I were not about to dive into another war. I'd taken the liberty of sending the locations on the hunters and most packs assured they'd take it into their hands. Most had even offered alliances after my head's up.

"Good," she purses her lips in though and then turns to face me, "you don't think I'm screwing around with Adam or anything, do you?"

I snort, nearly choking on my saliva as a laugh escapes me. "God no!" I shriek. And it's the truth — I can't imagine Stella leaping into bed with Adam, seeing as she barely let's anyone sit beside her. But the fact that Stella had been lounging on his bed had sparked my interest. It was a level of comfort that she only exudes around Liam, Jeremy, and I.

"Good," she echoes from earlier. "Adam's just... chill."

"Chill?" I repeat with a raised brow.

"So I'm bad at adjectives. Fuck off." Stella offers me a teasing grin, "he's better than Elena, at least. I only lived in the same room as her for three weeks and all she would do is bitch. Getting kicked out is an upgrade, if you ask me."

"She's been through a lot, Stella," I remind softly. Stella knows what it's like the most to walk in Elena's shoes. "People have different ways of coping."

Now it's Stella turn to snort, "oh, I know." She says, "I acted the same way as her after it happened. Sometimes I still do," she pauses, her fingers clenching around the papers. "Some of us just don't like to express pain or hurt, you know?"

"Maybe you should talk to her." I say, but that seems extremely unlikely.

"No," Stella responds. It's the answer I predicated. At least I tried. "She'll only react the same way I use to. Pissed off at someone even daring to mention it."

"All I'm saying Stella is the girl needs someone who knows what it's like," I argue meekly. I can't force Stella to talk to Elena, but it's not like I'm asking them to hold hands and sing Kumbaya My Lord or some shit. "I just don't want to see her self destructive."

"Like I did?" Stella mumbles. I go to protest — because that's not what I'm trying to say — but she beats me to it. "I'll talk to her." It's most likely the easiest surrender that Stella has ever given. I'm shocked, but I make sure to mask my features with a soft smile.

"Thank you," is all I know to say. Stella doesn't let the awkward moment run too long, instead she punches my shoulder and I yelp.

"Help me move my stuff," she commands sharply as she stands and starts to make her way back to compound. For someone so small, she really does hit hard, I think as I rub my shoulder. But I follow after her anyway, making sure to shove her out of the way as I run up the stairs. Stella chases and we laugh like the idiots we are.

  "Who's got patrol tonight?" I ask Liam the following night as we settle at the dining room table. Nearly half of it is covered in letters from different packs.

"Jer, Adam, and some of the original Purgatory members," he informs me cascually, but I stiffen at the knowledge of Adam being picked for patrol.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" 

"Adam being on patrol?" Liam echoes my thoughts, "no. But he insisted on being allowed to do so."

I hum, my features raking over Liam's face as he examines the documents before him that I presented a moment ago. "I think he'll be okay," I offer, but Liam merely grunts as he files through papers. 

"They called you Luna in this letter," Liam informs me as he hands it to me. My lips twist sourly at it. 

"The packs still follow old traditions," I say, "they still believe women are only meant to rule beside a man. A secondary voice to the people. Some have expressed their distaste to listen to me, merely because of my gender."

"You have taken over a pack filled with solely men," Liam leans closer to me, bracing himself on his elbows. "Who cares what they think? You are Alpha here."

"Perhaps," I toss the letter to the side with no wish to stare at it any longer. "When I crush Beckett, it will reinforce it."

"Reinforce what?"

"To ditch old customs," I say and Liam nods in understanding. "And then they won't think to write letters like that when I am informing them of valuable information."

"And what is your plan of attack, Alpha?" Liam leans across the stable, a small smile creeping on his full lips as I feel the warm exhale of breath against my lips. It makes me cock a brow at him. 

"Well, I was figuring you could help me figure that out," I lean closer to him, pressing a delicate kiss to the top of cheekbone before they settle near his ear. "After you take me upstairs." 

Liam grins at my prompt and sweeps me from my seat, hauling me over his shoulder while I laugh and pass various Purgatory that redden at Liam's hand settled firmly over my bottom. If it weren't for the hair dangling in front of my face, I'm sure they would notice my embarrassment as well. 

I want it to stay like this. The peaceful moments. The laughter. But with Beckett on the horizon, it can't be. Even as Liam looms over me that night, sweat glistening on his upper brow from our activities and littering kisses down my side, the worry in the back of my mind does not stray. 

So when Liam falls into a slumber beside me, I quickly shove on shorts and a t-shirt, making minimal effort to tame my bed hair and stumbling down to the kitchen to glance over the papers once more. The compound is silent, save for the members who plan to make their way out to patrol. 

I catch sight of Adam as he prepares to leave and watch as he straightens his jack and ruffles his hair in a nervous twitch, and to my surprise, Stella appears by his side, bidding him a safe patrol and a weight settles in the pit of my stomach. 

Unable to resist, I stand from the dining room table and call into the living room where Adam stands, "Adam," and I beckon him forward and signal the other two members to go to their patrol. They give a firm nod of their head and bid me a good night. I do the same while Adam trudges over to me. 

"Alpha Ronnie," he greets and I resist the urge to fidget at the formal reply. 

"Ron," I correct but Adam makes no move to correct himself. Instead, before I can help myself, I blurt, "are you nervous?"

Adam shifts in place and Stella watches the exchange from the living room, quickly catching my eyes and turning, understanding the conversation is rather private, no matter if we do live in a house of werewolves with supernatural hearing. 

"No," He answers calmly but I can see through him. I always have been able to. It's the visible shake of his fingers as they settle on the wooden table and the unwillingness to meet my eyes. 

"Good," is all reply. I don't want to ask him if he's sure he's ready -- just in case anything is to happen and he is to face his father -- this is merely patrol. Nothing will occur and if it is to, then we will be informed immediately. But it's still a risk, one even Adam understands. 

"Yeah," he breathes. "It's just a patrol, anyway," he says, echoing my thoughts. 

"It is," I reply, "but it's still best to be alert. But I'm sure everything will be alright." I give him a tight smile, "your shift ends at 5:30 AM and then Stella will switch in. Remember to check in when you come back." 

"I will," Adam assures. "Goodnight Ron." And he smiles, turning and heading back toward the living room.

"Be safe." I curse myself for the reply afterwards, because I don't want to seem like I'm doubting him, but he only waves and walks out the door. I'm on edge for the rest of the night for unknown reasons,  but my fears are later confirmed that when morning comes -- and I haven't had a wink of sleep -- when a string of howls sounds from outside the house and everyone is up, charging down the stairs in practice routine as Cliff breaks through the door, gasping in air in his haste of running here.

"They've taken Adam," he tells me, and my head feels fuzzy, "ambush," is the word I make out through his gasps of breaths. 

And I know we've played into his hands. 

Stella rushes to my side, grasping my arm in her grip and declaring, "we need to get him back," but I halt her rushed movements with a determined, 

"No."

"What do you mean no?" Stella spews in anger as she snatches her hand away from my arm as if it's burned her. "He's our packmate-"

"I'm aware," I reply calmly, and I catch Liam's eye from the corner of the room. "That's what he wants. He wants us to panic, he wants to run into it unprepared. We can't give him that."

"What if he went willingly?" One of the previous Purgatory members voices and this causes Stella's hackles to rise at the implication. 

"That man tormented him," she hisses to him. "He wouldn't willingly return."

"Perhaps not," Liam chimes with his arm crossed over his chest. "But maybe he was threatened. And he's still his father."

"So what?" Stella questions in a huff, "we leave him to die?"

"No," I say and turn to a member, "bring a paper and pen, please."

"For what?" Jer questions from his place beside Rosalyn. 

"We're going to war," I say, though it comes as no surprise. "Now, if Beckett is man enough, we agree to a time and date. We're not rogues anymore; we're an official pack and Beckett cannot deny our request for a proper battle. I'll also be writing to allied packs who've offered their assistance." 

"So we go to war?" Stella repeats, "soon?"

"We got to war." I confirm, and a week later, I finally see Beckett face to face for the first time since the death of my father.

It is a bitter meeting.

---------

It's been a while, hasn't it? 

Well, the final climatic showdown will occur in the next two chapters with an epilogue. Be prepared!

Until next time, 

- CeCe