Keys clashed noisily together outside of the door I stood behind, and I counted the seconds that passed by under my breath, eyes still fixated on the handle of the door.

I stepped away when seconds drifted into minutes, and began to return back to the window, examining the scenery outside.

Jeeps were now parked by the building, and I could see several uniformed lycans standing by them, waiting, backs straight and eyes attentive.

My stomach clenched as a pang of hunger shot through it, and I rested my fingers against my stomach, turning back to the door just as it was roughly kicked open. The person who did this had evidently forgone using the keys.

At the sight of a gun being aimed towards me, and the familiar individual who held it, I shook my head faintly and strode forward.

"Skylar?" Frederick's voice echoed in the room and his weapon lowered as I neared. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion as his gaze swept over me.

"What are you doing here?"

I paused in the doorway after brushing by Frederick, and my eyes skipped up and down the empty hall outside the room.

I could hear the sounds of struggling and growls, and decided that it would be best that I go the opposite direction of wherever those noises came from.

"I was kidnapped," I revealed to Frederick. "Ambushed by some Alberrechians and was brought here to heal an Alpha."

I could feel Frederick's eyes on me for several seconds until I met his gaze. I explained hastily, "If you are looking for the alpha, I believe he is in the last door on the right."

"Nicholas."

My eyes travelled up and down the hallway once more, and my feet tingled with the urge to begin walking. "Hmm?"

"That must be Alpha Nicholas."

I nodded. "Right." I licked my lips in anticipation and glanced back at the male lycan once again. "I shall take my leave. Thank you for releasing me from the room."

Before Frederick could utter a word, and it looked as if he had planned to because of the way his mouth opened and eyes became confused once again, boots thundered against the floor, and I watched as the hallway was flooded with many Wildeland warriors.

Some opened several doors and searched through them until Frederick explained where Nicholas was being kept.

I shouldered past several people, offering quick but probably tense smiles of apologies when some sent me looks of annoyance because of me doing so.

My thoughts were trained on my home, and I sought after the exit of the building desperately. I passed by several bodies on the way to the stairs that would take me below.

I grimaced when the soles of my feet accidentally touched pools of blood, but released a soft breath when I eventually found the door that led me outside.

My eyes lowered to the slightly snow covered ground when I stepped outside and I began to mentally and physically prepare myself for the long journey back home.

After only a brief moment of walking, I soon began to hear the chatter of lycans as they exited the building. By then, I had also begun walking past some trees that were nearby.

I paused, curiosity making me watch the outpour of warriors, some appearing mildly injured whilst others sported no wounds.

They headed towards the jeeps, but some abruptly halted, attention turning to the massive, and tall lycan, Nicholas, striding out of the building.

His dark blue eyes roamed the trees quickly, and I stepped backwards when his gaze flitted over where I stood, partially hidden amongst the trees.

He had not seen me.

His chest raised as he inhaled deeply, and his eyes darkened as he scented the air. Frederick appeared by Nicholas' shoulder and he began speaking quietly to him in a hushed tone.

I watched as the alpha's jaw visibly clenched, and the narrowing of his eyes as he listened intently to Frederick's words.

His gaze once again began travelling over the trees, but not in the area in which I stood.

My stomach growled with hunger and I glanced behind me, mind returning back to my home. I lifted off the tree I'd been propping upon and my footsteps were light as I began to attempt to find my way home.

**********

Both Athena and Esmeralda were outside of my house door when I returned. By then, night had fallen and I was in a desperate need of a shower.

Esmeralda and Athena followed me into my home, their voices full of concern as I shuffled around the kitchen, turning on the kettle and quietly thanking Esmeralda for the food she provided, once again.

"You look tired." Esmeralda said, watching as I dropped down into a chair and began eating the rice and grilled fish she'd made for me.

"I am." My mouth was full of food when I told Esmeralda this, or rather, grunted. Athena simply stood by the kitchen sink, arms folded and eyes darting up and down my body as I continued to hungrily eat.

"One of my warriors told me of finding you in the place in which the missing alpha was being kept."

Athena's voice could be heard over the sound of my fork scraping against the plate as I used it to lift up warm rice continuously.

"I see."

"Frederick searched for you, in hopes to drive you to your home, but he was unable to find you."

"Mhm."

I reached for a glass of water Esmeralda poured for me after I consumed my meal, and I uttered my thanks to her before drinking more than half of the warm water. I wiped at my chin afterwards, resting back in my chair, finally somewhat sated.

Athena's eyes were tainted with faint amusement as she watched me, but surprise was also held in her gaze.
"Nicholas also had intentions of driving you home."

I licked the inside of my cheek, saying nothing, and simply watched as Athena failed miserably to hide her smile. She cocked her head, smile widening as she so happily explained,

"You see, I received a phone call sometime this evening from him. Frederick had told him I knew of you."

Athena turned to click off the kettle, grabbed several cups and easily found a bag of teabags soon afterwards.

She was silent as she made tea for everyone, slid a cup over to me once she was finished and gently gave another to Esmeralda, who by then had decided to take a seat in one of my chairs.

I didn't look at the cup of tea at first, but carried on listening to Athena as she said, "He would like to speak to you. Nicholas, I mean. He told me what he has to say is important."

My nails tapped along the ceramic cup. "You know what this important information is."

Athena didn't deny my words. "I believe it is best that Nicholas speaks to you himself regarding that. He was very persistent in wanting to talk to you, and I was a bit hesitant about giving him your address, because I know you like your privacy. But I'm sure he'll figure it out soon enough."

"So basically she's giving you a 'heads up.' Nicholas may be coming around soon." Esmeralda chirped in. My gaze turned to her, and I watched as she took several long swallows of her tea, hiding her smile.

"I see." My words were spoken softly, and I stood. Tiredness had long ago captured my mind and body, and I also was eager for a shower.

"Thank you for the meal, Esmeralda," My eyes went to Athena. "And thank you for your…'heads up'."

I stepped backwards, away from the table. "I'm assuming you will be taking Esmeralda home?"

Athena glanced at her friend. "Of course."

I nodded, and gave a small wave with my fingers despite being right before her. "Alright. I'll see you again when I do."

The corners of her lips twitched and Athena placed her now empty cup into the sink. "Goodnight, Skylar."

************

I opened one of the many cupboards in my home, fingers drifting across empty vials of various sizes as I sought one that I desired. The glasses felt comforting against my fingertips, and I felt a smile pulling at my lips.

I eventually decided upon using the smallest vial for the potion I'd made, and with quick movements, I poured the magical liquid from the bowl in which I had used whilst making the potion, into the vial.

Some of the potion dripped onto a counter, mixing in to a few of the others that had managed to fall from different vials as well.

After ensuring that the cap was on properly, I slipped the vial into another cupboard which held many potions.

The array of different colors of the potions, red, yellow, blue and purple, were beautiful, and I gazed at them in admirance for a long while before closing the cupboard door carefully.

I then cursed under my breath at the sight of one of my mother's opened books which rested on the counter, and that I had been reading.

It was dripping with some of the potion that had spilled. I quickly carried it to the fireplace, hoping that the pages would be warmed and dried soon enough.

I closed off the remainder of the cupboard doors; I had spent the entire morning making several potions and reading through books written by my mother, some which had shown her enthusiasm at making potions similar to my own.

Magic was one of the main things needed to make some potions, and that was fortunately something I have.

My mother had guided me since I was a toddler on how to make these potions and use my magic, and I had gained a lot of knowledge regarding how to use them by the time I was ten years old; she had died of old age shortly after I turned ten. She hadn't looked old at all, but nonetheless had been.

The magic I have and the potions I make can not bring the dead alive once again, but I was hoping to have some advancements in being able to do so and experimented with some potions daily.

I began wiping down the counter, cleaning away the liquids, but suddenly paused at some sounds being made outside of my home.

Footsteps.

I dropped the kitchen towel I had been using and intertwined my fingers, resting them on a counter as I waited.

Hushed words, voices which were unfamiliar reached my ears, and then an unconfident knock sounded against the wooden door.

I began to walk slowly, sock covered feet making little noise against the wooden floor.

When I opened the door slightly, what I immediately noticed was the dark suits that the men wore. I rocked back on my heels, eyes travelling up to their faces. Bewilderment could be seen on both of their expressions.

"Are you Skylar Oakland?" One of the men, who also wore a strange, wide-brimmed black hat, asked me.

My head dipped in a nod, but I refused to open the door further. I simply watched as he exchanged a look with the man beside him before turning back to me.

"I'm afraid I have bad news, Skylar. Your father became gravely ill and suffered a heart attack. He is in the hospital now as we speak."