We managed to get the last flight out and in four hours' time we were back in Vancouver.

 Thankfully Charles had arranged to send a car at the airport and we are now on our way to the pack.

''It's a good thing we changed love, we will go straight to Crimson to meet up with Ethan and Axel,'' Theo says.

We reach our pack borders and are met with Charles. ''When were they sighted?'' I ask him, worry laced in my voice. ''They appeared this evening, Crimson already have men positioned at their borders; Noah has increased security on our borders too. Ashton and Sean are there already; we are waiting for you guys.''

We put our bags on the front steps of our home and hastily make way to Crimson Pack.

''Did you do it Theo?'' I hear Charles ask in a low voice, ''Couldn't do it man, we had to rush back after your call,'' Theo replies and I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. ''Do what Theo?''

''Ohh it was nothing love, Charles just wanted me to get him a souvenir from Toronto but I couldn't get one,'' he replies with a shrug of his shoulders.

''You wanted a souvenir, seriously?''

''Yeah so, I like them; what are you going to do Athena, sue me?''

''Okay, okay, calm down Charles; I was just curious.''

Soon we are at the borders and cross to Crimson. We pass by the pack house, the school and the meadow so as to get to the other side. Once we are there I'm met with the worried faces of Ethan, Axel, Dad, mom and Nadia.

''You guys made it, how was the trip?'' Mom asks and nudges Theo. ''It was okay, the meeting went well but that's about it, nothing else to say,'' Theo replies and I see mom's shoulders slump. What's up with her?

''So, any sign of movement from them?'' I ask, so as to rid us of the silence that had enveloped.

''No we've been here for almost 7 hours now, it's late in the night too so we highly doubt they will attack now,'' Ethan replies. ''But we cannot just sit back and relax, we must be vigilant; they might even attack at the break of dawn,'' Dad advises.

''We'll be staying here with you,'' I say and Theo nods in agreement. We continue scouting and also sent one tracker closer to their camp. ''It seems like all they are doing is resting, they don't seem bothered at all,'' he reports and then goes back to his position.

''Looks like they are waiting for an order,'' Ashton voices, ''Whoever is leading them seems to know how to keep us on edge.''

Mom and Nadia soon leave for the pack houses to bring coffee for everyone. I can see the sun rising over the horizon as daylight fills the sky. A yawn escapes me and I lay my head on Theo's shoulders.

''You can go take a nap love, we'll call you if anything interesting happens. I just spoke to Charles, everything is fine on our side.''

''It's okay Theo, I'm fine. Just a bit exhausted; nothing a cup of coffee can't fix.''

''I don't know what we're waiting for Ethan, why don't we just attack them. The more rogues we put down the better,'' Sean says ready to march forward and attack.

''Put your ass down boy, hasn't your father taught you nothing about going to war,'' Dad scolds him.

''We don't attack until they make a move, understood?'' and Sean nods his head respectfully.

The coffee arrives soon and we all drink it, instantly feeling relaxed. ''Feeling better already Athena?'' Axel shouts from his place as he rests against a boulder. ''You know it,'' I wink at him and he chuckles.

I catch Theo looking back and forth between us and shake my head. When will he get over this jealousy of his, the guy is his sister's mate for god's sake.

I watch Theo intently as he eyes the exchange between Nadia and Axel. She walks up to the boulder and makes herself comfortable on his laps as he kisses her cheeks. I stop a laugh from erupting as Theo crunches his face in disgust and looks away.

''Guys!!! There is movement happening right now!'' Ethan shouts and we all get up ready to defend ourselves.

''What in the goddesses' name are they doing?'' I hear Theo shout. I look closely and see that the rogues are pulling their tents down and packing.

''Are they moving away?'' someone yells.

We all stand still for a while and sure enough the rogues pack up and walked back to the direction they came from. ''What was that supposed be?'' I wonder out loud.

''My guess princess, this was a distraction. Everyone head back to your packs now and do thorough checks, those damn witches are messing with our minds!'' dad orders. 

Even though he is not an alpha anymore, the power resonating from him sends everyone into a frenzy, except the other alphas and me of course.

''Come on love, I have a feeling we are on the receiving end of whatever those witches have in store.''

Theo and I rush back to our pack but what we see when we get there is completely unexpected.

Everything seems to be normal; the pack members are all waking up, some going for their runs, the kitchen staff heading to the pack house to prepare breakfast, children going to school and all the daily routines that take place.

''What in the world!!'' I yell in frustration as we run around the pack looking for something, anything that is out of place but we get nothing, nada, zilch.

''You go scout by the lake and I'll go towards the hospital,'' Theo says and I nod as we part ways.

I run around the pack like a mad woman, trying to get any clue when I feel the link buzz.

''Everything is clear on our side, '' I hear Ashton's voice through the alpha link.

''Our side too, nothing is out of place, '' I hear Benjamin's gruff voice.

''Our side is clear too, '' Ethan replies.

''Theo, Athena; what's your status?''

''We are still covering the area, will keep you updated?'' Theo voices.

My mind is occupied by the conversation and I don't pay attention to the person walking towards me and walk right into him. ''Ouch!!'' I yell in pain rubbing my forehead.

''Whoa there darling, watch where you are going,'' Sebastian says while rubbing his shoulder.

Great I walked into Sebastian's shoulder, just great!

''Heyyy...are you okay....you seem exhausted?''

''Hi...umm sorry. I just I.... I'm just really stressed out. I haven't slept a wink since last night with those rogues camping at Crimson and the witches messing with us and why am I even telling you all this! Sorry, I'll get out of your way, '' I finish ranting and walk past him but he grabs my hand and pulls me to him.

''You need to rest Athena, you've got eye bags and you will fall down any second; let me help you darling. What is it that you're looking for?''

''That's the thing Sebastian, I don't even know what I'm looking for. Everything seems normal here but a part of me is telling me to continue looking.'' 

''A part of you is also telling you to sleep, but you're not listening to it are you?''

''I'm really not in the mood for some philosophical advice, I have work to do.''

''Oh no you don't, you're coming with me darling,'' he says and picks me up bridal style.

''What do you think you're doing? Put me down!'' I yell.

''No can do Athena, you need to sleep,'' he scolds me.

''I know what I need to do okay, so you put me down this instant!''

''You sure about that darling?'' he asks, ''absolutely!!'' I reply.

He lets go of me and I fall to the ground in a thud.

''Are you out of your mind?!'' I shout at him rubbing my back in the process and he shrugs, ''I did what you asked me to do, didn't I?'' with that he walks away towards the pack house. What a jerk!

I get up mumbling and groaning, abusing Sebastian along the way. I get to the lake and look around but there is nothing unusual. I also walk to the cemetery where all the fallen have been buried. It looks okay too. I notice the flowers on Rachel's grave have wilted and pluck some wild ones from a bush nearby.

''I wish you were here Rach, I really miss you; we all do. I promise you that whoever did this will pay for it,'' my voice cracks as a tear rolls down my cheek. I wipe it off and get up.

I walk back to the lake and decide to wash my face, I lower myself and catch my reflection in the water. ''Oh well, Sebastian was right about my face.''

''Theo, have you found anything?'' I mind link him.

''No, what about you?'' he asks. 

''Nothing, I'm making my way to the pack house, meet me at the office?

''Sure love, I'm on my way,'' he replies and cuts off the link.

By the time I make it to the office I see the omegas leaving to deliver breakfast to the higher ranking members.

''Alpha, you're here. I was about to deliver this to your house,'' A short boy who is about 18 yrs old with ginger hair and freckles tells me.

''No need for that, Theo and I will be having breakfast in the office, I can take it from here,'' I say and take the bag of food out of this hands. ''Thank you so much.''

''Welcome Alpha,'' and he bows in respect before jogging back to the kitchen.

''You came with food! That is the most positive I've felt since last night,'' Charles cries dramatically as I place the bag on Theo's desk.

''You look tired love,'' he says in an exhausted voice. ''So do you Theo.''

''We are missing something here, why would they just send rogues to camp for a night,'' He muses while placing his head between his hands.

I walk to the book shelf and my eyes land on the book titled, 'Witches over the centuries' and take it from the shelf. '' I'll hang on to this for a while, there might be something here that we can use against them.''

Theo gets up from his chair and opens up the boxes. The three of us surround the bag and eat our breakfast silently.

''You two should really go home and take a shower, you're beginning to reek,'' Charles comments and scrunches his nose in disgust. ''We get it Charles, we are going home,'' I chide him and we leave.

Our bags are still on the front steps from last night. As we walk up the steps I catch a distinct smell of blood. Theo catches it too and we exchange confusing looks.

We rush into the house and the smell becomes overwhelming.

''Theo,'' I warn as he approaches one of the guest rooms, ''Stay behind me love,'' He warns.

He kicks the door open and inspects inside, I follow him too but there is nothing.

''The smell is everywhere, but it's stronger on this side,'' I point towards the back.

We both walk towards the back door and I push it open. The smell hits us right in the face and I have to hold my breath.

We walk outside completely and there lying on the back patio is a severed head of an elk, with a note hanging from its antlers; I pick the note up and my eyes scan over it.

''Read it out aloud love,'' Theo says from the threshold.

See how easy it is for me to enter your home and rattle you to the core.

The worst is yet to come, until then enjoy cleaning up the mess.

-Celeste.

***

So Celeste is creepy AF!

Thoughts?

-Jessica.S