"Did you get another message from your sister? " Aimee asked.

Akela shook her head. There was a sense of travelling and fear but no direct link.

Aimee looked at her friend thoughtfully and tapped her chin.
Without asking, she grabbed Akela's hand and dragged her into the loving room.

"Let's try something," she said and lay down a blanket on the floor.

"Lie down," Aimee instructed.

Akela must have looked sceptical because Aimee's face split into a cheesy grin.

"My mum does this when my dad is gone to clear their connection," Aimee smiled.

"Does it work?" Akela frowned but lay down as her friend asked.
Aimee fussed a bit, arranging Akela's legs and arms so she was lying comfortably but flat.

"It's a bit like meditation. My mum's Eastern, human family hails from some deep spiritual thinkers. I guess my mum just kept the tradition. " Aimee said.

Akela nodded.

"Ameer does thai chi in the mornings," she added and watched Aimee nod.

"Yeah. My uncle doesn't get the whole calm and quiet bit. Unless he's with auntie Emily... but he mediates," Aimee grinned.

"But you're mum does this to mindlink your dad?" Akela asked.

Aimee nodded again.

"Her human side makes mindlinks over distances hard, but they have found a way. Allie and Zeke link up all the time," Aimee said.

"I thought all mates mindlinked when their connection solidified," Akela mused, careful not to overstep Aimee's comfort zone.

The other girl just smiled and stood up to dim the lights and close the curtains, creating a dusky, calm atmosphere in the room.

"Perhaps it's something with the human genetics that makes it harder. I don't really mindlink either..." Aimee said and keeled down above Akela's head.

"Does it bother you?" Akela asked, wondering what it would be like to never have access to another person's mind.

Aimee shook her head with her trademark gentle smile.

"No. I like having my mind to my self. Now, close your eyes, breathe deeply into your stomach and let the breath slowly out through your nose," Aimee instructed.

Akela did as she was told, her mind still wondering about the power of mindlink.

"Relax your thoughts, remove them from your worries, focus only on your sister. Think of a happy memory you have with her. Let your breath flow easily in and out. Think of Kira. Try to summon her in your mind," Aimee said in a calm, monotone yet singing tone.

"Kira!" Akela thought and remembered the last week their family were happily living together in the old cabin in the woods.
She reached out, searching for her twin, holding on to that faint link she had thought was severed until a few hours ago.

"Akela!" A faint reply entered her mind.

"Where are you?" Akela asked, putting all her energy into the link, feeling her sisters physical weakness stain the link.

"Almost out of North territory. Not strong. Akela. I... I miss you! I'm sorry! I don't know how far I can go... I... am... tired... Aki..." Kira thought back and Akela felt in every word how weak her sister really was.

"But you're away from him? Right?" Akela asked and sensed a nod back along with a worry for the child in Kira's arms.

An idea struck Akela.

"Go south-west Kira! Go towards that cabin we were in. That last time before we were taken. Go where we were happy!" She told her sister, the link fading between them.

"Beats dying under a bush or being caught by Preston's goons I guess..." Kira replied with her usual flair for dramatics.

"I'm serious. Go there. I'll meet you. I'll bring help. And food!" Akela flashed of towards her sister. She could feel how her twin had sat down in the mud to be able to mindlink over this distance.

"Promise?" Kira asked.

"With all my heart. Even if my Alpha says no, I'll break his command! " Akela promised.

Kira was quiet for a while before replying.

"He means a lot to you this Alpha?" She asked.

Akela wondered if this was the time for the full story before sending a simple confirmation.

"I hope someone will come with me. Or at least let me get help from the other pack..." Akela thought, with a worried mental concern sent towards Ezekiel. She was fairly sure he would help, but all her life she had learned to only rely on herself and her closest family in times of need.

"Of course I'll help you," a gentle voice broke through her focus.

Akela opened her eyes to see Ezekiel sat on the sofa with a proud smile on his face.

"You were so focused, you didn't realise you spoke out loud," Aimee said.

Akela looked at Aimee before looking at Ezekiel.

"Tell us where to go. I'll gather the troops," Ezekiel smiled, part amused that Akela still thought she might have to do this alone, part exited for a little adventure.

Akela closed her eyes again, ignoring the tears of gratitude burning their way out.

"Aki?" Kira asked, feeling their link strengthen again with Akela's focus.

"I can't believe this, but my Alpha is coming too," Akela thought at her sister.

Kira's surprise was tangible.

"It's a small pack, but it's family," Akela nearly laughed through the link.

She was happy, scared and relieved at the same time.

"Please hurry. I think Preston is after me... Or he will be... Soon," Kira begged.

"As fast as I can, Ki-ki. The old cabin. Go there. I'll be there!" Akela thought and felt her sister break into tears of exhaustion and hope.

The link faded, and Akela opened her eyes to see a wide smile on Ezekiel's face.

"Let's pack!" he announced and pulled Akela up from the floor with one hand.

She stared at him, unable to formulate her thoughts.

"She's my niece, your sister and she needs help. I'll mindlink Gerry to lend use a couple of deltas in case of trouble," he smiled and wrapped her in another of those warm, fatherly hugs Akela had become used to.

Less than half an hour later, the kitchen table was covered in maps and Ezekiel and Sam were planning the easiest route. Akela's inability to read maps was not doing them any favours.

"Look! On foot. As wolves, I can take you there, but I don't know the human roads well enough. I know there's a town or a city in the nearby valley to the south, and there's a tall, steep mountain northeast of the cabin, hiding it. And this mountain sort of bends in a curve and is connected to the mountains around the human town," She tried to explain, launching the two men into more discussion on where it may be.

"Southeast of Preston's territory, curving mountains...." Sam mumbled before landing his finger on a substantial settlement.

"How far would you say?" Ezekiel asked.

Akela shrugged.

"I was weak when I made the journey here... Dad said it would take a couple of months to get here when my mum was ill... We had travelled three weeks, skirting long detours around North territory, when we were caught," She said trying to remember if Link had said something else.

"And now Kira is too weak to come closer to us? " Sam kept his focus on the map.

"She's carrying the baby. It's the only place I know of where they could possibly hide for a few days..." Akela replied feeling a bit silly.

Ezekiel gave her a warm smile and put an arm around her shoulder.

"No. You did the right thing. She needs a place to rest up. Especially if we are going in wolf form," he smiled, removing Akela's doubts.

"We stayed in it in winter when we hasn't been let into a pack... it was a kind of home," Akela explained.

"Good. That means Link thought it was fairly safe," Sam nodded in full delta prime mode.

Before they could plan ant more there was a knock on the door and Archer entered with all four of his children.

"And the troops have arrived!" Sam grinned and fistbumped Diana.

Archer rolled his eyes at the two primes and their games.

"First of all what is the plan? Secondly, which of our deltas are going?" He asked.

Sam grinned and pointed to an area on the map.

"Well. From Akela's information, we are heading for this area, a week direct route from Preston's actual territory but only two days journey from his tributary areas," he explained using the map for reference.

"From here, that's a two month run as wolves," Ezekiel frowned.

"If we keep top speed!" Sam nodded.

Diana rolled her shoulders as if preparing for the run. Gerry placed a hand on her arm with a faint smile.

"Awe!" Diana complained but nodded when she received a private mindlink from her oldest brother.

"I say we fly out. And wolf it the last two days," Ezekiel said and pointed to the town in the valley.

"And cage Zion then I guess?" Gerry asked with a raised eyebrow.

Ezekiel looked at the two, very quiet and tense betas.

"Can you not wait here?" Sam asked and met two very resolute frowns.

"Akela could get hurt!" Abel frowned.

"And if he's going, so am I," Zion started with a very direct look at Akela, daring her to say something, anything.

Akela studied the two of them before looking at her alpha.

"Zi used to be delta prime, right?" She asked.

Ezekiel grinned back at her and nodded.

"Its only a three day drive... four at most..." Ameer shot in, looking at the map over Sam's shoulder.

Ezekiel looked around the room at his gathered pack before holding his hands out to his nephews.

"If the two of you are going, I need to know you are going to heed my commands... Especially if we run into trouble. And specifically when we find Kira in whatever state she is in..." he said.
The two younger men immediately grabbed his hands, and Akela felt the pack-link grow by two more minds.

"Yes, uncle Zeke!" Zion grinned.

Akela picked up a weird happiness in him, until she recalled that he had never before been outside Connor territory. He caught her looking and smiled.

"We'll find your sister!" he smiled warmly.

Abel bounced over to Akela giving her an overly excited hug.

"And once we find her, you can finally admit who you think it's the hottest guy on the planet," he grinned with his charm turned up to the max.
"It's me, right!" He mouthed, not so subtly, and with his best flirty grin.

Akela started laughing at his silly games. It struck her that for the first time since meeting him, there were no tingly explosions in her gut when she looked into this dark brown eyes. She knew enough to see his serious side under all his flirting, and she admired the protective aura she felt encompassing herself.

"Could you be mine?" She thought carefully, wondering what a life with Abel would be like. There wouldn't be a lot of boredom, he would be attentive and romantic. She just wasn't sure if she could keep up with him. And his constant need for attention could get annoying.

Abel smiled back at her, as if he to was searching for that illusive spark. Suddenly the just winked with a cheeky grin.

"You know you have your whole life to stare at me," he grinned.
Something slightly disappointed lurked beneath the surface of his whispered joke.

Akela took a deep breath to control her blush before looking at him again.

"Phsssh! As if..." She grinned back and returned her attention to the table where the rest of them were busy with the map. All except one, who's bronze coloured eyes were fixed on her with a serious look tinged with worry.

The smile spread across her face until she lifted her graze and a ball of molten lava started to simmer in her gut. The beautiful, worried eyes, looking into hers, lit her heart on fire. His hands lifted to rub his own chest in a subconscious gesture as if he was feeling the same flame.

Akela couldn't help the smile as their eyes met again.
He gave a shy smile back which disappeared when Abel tightened his arm around her shoulder.

"How come he gets your pretty smiles?" Abel frowned.

"Maybe because he doesn't jump her like a horny teenager every five minutes?" Diana rolled her eyes.

"I don't..." Abel started but met five serious faces.

"So...I haven't seen her in a while and her hugs are magic," Abel smiled at Akela. His smile was making her feel like a princess.

"Leave some for Zi!" Diana huffed with a teasing grin.

"Nope. Once we find Kira he can get his own cuddles," Abel childishly pouted and squished Akela tightly.

Akela pushed him off with a chuckle and shook her head.

"Could you be a bit serious for once? " Archer asked his youngest son, trying to keep an amused grin off his face.

Abel reluctantly let go of Akela and looked at the map.

"So when do we go?" he asked rubbing his hands together. His flirty persona in a moment replaced with a practical attitude.

Akela nodded. If this serious, practical side was there, she would be able to handle his more exuberant displays of affection.

Shaking off the distraction of the two Connors, Akela reached into the link with Kira. Her sister's weakness was all she could sense. Kira was worried about her baby and constantly scanning behind her in fear.
Tears burned behind Akela's eyes.

"What if we're too late?" she asked quietly.

Ezekiel shot her a questioning look.

"She's so weak. She is hurt and carrying the baby..." She explained.

"You think she might die?" Zion frowned, his medical education at the front of his mind.

"She certainly will if Preston catches her," Akela whispered, feeling her voice break with the thought.

The men around the table all stared at her with worried frowns until Ezekiel huffed a slow sigh.

"Zion. Bring a med-kit. Protein shakes, nutrition, possibly b12 and iron supplements. Ameer has an army backpack you can use," he instructed.

Akela watched Zion's face battle itself between highly excited and deeply serious.

"The rest of us, minus Akela, need to carry dog saddlebags full of our own kit and stuff for Kira and the pup," Ezekiel continued.

Abel and Sam nodded.

"Sam, cooking gear, Abel clothes. I'll carry baby gear. I'm sure Allie has some stashed away," he said.

"Like these?" Allie entered the kitchen and dumped an armful of clothes, including a few outfits that were obviously for Kira, on the table.

Ezekiel grinned widely towards his wife and made a dismissing motion with his hands towards the rest of them.

"Go! We drive as soon as everyone is packed," he ordered.

Akela felt a hand squeeze her shoulder and looked up to see Abel's confident smile.

"Be strong, sweetheart," he said quietly as the mountain gang left to pack their share of the luggage.