3rd Person POV

Cassius and Desmond finally found the grey building Azriel had described. People streamed in out of the building dressed in traditional lab coats. Cassius counted a total of ten guards surrounding the building as well.

This was not going to end well.

"Got a plan," Cassius whispered.

They were both hidden behind trees. Cassius sniffed the air hoping his sharp senses could pick up Catherine despite the distance. He got nothing.

"We're just going to have to fight our way through it," Desmond said.

"That's not a plan. That's a suicide mission," Cassius argued.

"You got a better idea," Desmond snapped.

Cassius could tell that Desmond was irritated than usual considering how close, yet how far Catherine was. That didn't mean they could just march in there and take out ten fully-grown supernatural creatures, mostly werewolves. Cassius scrambled his head for anything that could help and an idea clicked.

"I've got an idea but I don't know if it'll work," Cassius muttered.

"I'm listening," Desmond said.

Cassius waited for Desmond's signal. Desmond's hand closed in a fist just as two guards disappeared into the building. The two of them burst out of hiding wearing panicked expressions.

It took all of ten seconds for them to be completely surrounded.

Cassius kept his hands in the air, hoping his panicked expression was working.

"We came to inform someone. The prisoner that escaped earlier, Alexander, reached Demetrius pack lands and took down three wolves before he was captured. They're on their way here now for revenge," Cassius explained hurriedly.

"How did you two here about this," a blue-eyed man demanded.

"We were in Asheville when we overheard and we came as soon as we could. You don't have much time. You need to alert people as soon as possible," Desmond added urgently.

The guards just stared at them and Cassius' hoped dwindled. Catherine was so goddamned close and he refused to leave here without her. He kept the panicked expression on his face, a not so difficult feat considering the intimidating wolves surrounding him.

For added measure, he widened his eyes in a way that hopefully looked innocent.

Finally, a blonde buff man pulled out his phone and pressed a button. A blaring alarm sounded throughout the entire building. The guards dispersed from their position to talk about the positions they were going to take against the incoming attack.

Cassius dropped his act and shot Desmond a wide grin. He couldn't believe that his ridiculous plan had actually worked.

"We still haven't found her yet," Desmond said, maintaining his stony expression.

Cassius rolled his eyes before following Desmond into the grey building. People with blazers and lab coats created all kinds of chaos as they ran down the corridors. A few people were trying to create some order but they were failing miserably. Desmond and Cassius stumbled upon one long hallway from which numerous smaller hallways branched out, lined with doors presumably leading into cells.

It would take them ages to find her in this mess.

"Can you detect her scent," Desmond asked.

Cassius shook his head. With this many scents, hers wouldn't even be traceable if she were in the room closest to them. Desmond let out a frustrated groan.

That's when Cassius spotted a familiar moody teenager in the crowd.

"Look it's Theo," Cassius pointed out.

The boy was heading in their direction and stopped cold a few feet away, probably noticing the murderous expression on Desmond's face. Before Cassius could stop him, Desmond had grabbed the boy by the collar and shoved him against a wall. His eyes had turned coal black and Cassius almost felt sorry for Theo.

"Where is she," Desmond growled.

"I already got her out. She's gone," Theo replied.

"What," Cassius asked in shock.

"Don't mess with me kid or I will kill you," Desmond threatened.

The teenager rolled his eyes before using his hands to shove Desmond back with surprising force.

"I'm stronger than both of you right now so don't threaten me. I'm telling the truth though. I got her out," Theo explained angrily.

"We don't believe you," Desmond replied.

Cassius wasn't too sure but he chose not to argue with a vampire with murder in his eyes.

Theo looked annoyed but then he gestured for them to follow him. He led them down the corridor before turning into one of the hallways. He opened door number thirty and Cassius was hit with her overwhelming scent. His hopes instantly rose as his eyes scoured the tiny room.

She wasn't there though.

"She was kept here. You can detect her scent can't you," Theo asked.

Desmond looked at Cassius and he nodded in confirmation.

"So we came all this way for nothing," Desmond groaned.

"Are you kidding? You can help people escape. Granted, I wish there were more than just two of you but we can make this work. Hopefully, Catherine's on the way with more help," Theo said.

Cassius looked to Desmond. They reached a silent consensus and Cassius turned back to Theo.

"What's the plan," Cassius asked.

Theo smiled and Cassius realized it was the first time he'd seen him do that.

1st Person POV

I didn't realize just how badly I'd missed him until I saw him standing there. A whimper escaped me as I pushed aside a few loitering werewolves to get to him. He looked too stunned to move, eyes fixed on me blankly.

I finally reached him and didn't think twice before throwing my arms around him.

My whole body was actually shaking. I buried my face into the crook of his neck and inhaled his familiar scent. Tears dripped down my cheeks and stained his red silk shirt.

"Am I dreaming," Azriel asked in shock.

I drew back but kept my hands on his chest. I was afraid I'd blink and he'd be gone again. It took me a couple of tries, amidst my mindless crying, to answer his question.

I didn't even know why I was crying but seeing him there had unlocked something I'd put away all this time.

"No. I got out," I choked out.

"You're really here," he asked.

His voice was shaking with vulnerability. I'd never seen him look so unsteady in all the time we'd known each other. His palm came up and cupped my cheek so gently, like he expected me to be a mirage that his fingers would just pass through.

I covered his hand with mine and leaned into his touch.

"I'm here," I whispered.

Something between a whimper and full-blown sob escaped him before he closed the distance between us.

I didn't hesitate when his lips touched mine in a searing kiss, full of passion, urgency and a desperation that we'd somehow managed to bottle away. I melted against him, kissing him back with equal fervor as his trembling hands held me steady at the waist. I was falling, too hard, too fast, too deep. 

The intensity of his kiss, of him in that moment took my breath away.

He drew back but kept his forehead against mine, breathing just as raggedly as I was. I could feel more than one eye on us, filled with disapproval, but I couldn't care less. In that moment, all I cared about was the man holding me like I was the most precious thing in the world.

I could've stood their all day but we had work to do.

"We need to," I started.

"Go find them. Right," Azriel finished hoarsely.

He drew back reluctantly and it was only then that Laura sidled up to our sides with Raphael and Michel in tow. I fought to keep a blush off my cheeks at the suggestive look she gave me, waggling her brows. Azriel kept our hands firmly intertwined, a pleased smile on his face.

"I thought she was with Cassius," Michel commented.

"Really I thought he was with Cassius," Raphael replied.

"We can delve into the complexities of our relationships later. We need to go help Desmond and Cassius free everyone in those cells. This is no longer just a rescue mission," Azriel said smoothly.

"I'll gather people," Raphael said.

Michel caught him before he could walk away.

"Dad made those deals to make sure the pack didn't have any trouble with the operation and now you want to go to war with them," Michel asked.

"Our brother is in danger," Raphael said angrily.

I couldn't believe this was actually up for discussion right now. I glanced at Azriel, whose smile had faded into an irritated scowl that he rarely wore.

"Look, the pack comes first. We cannot afford to risk the alliance we have with the operation."

Cassius' dad had joined the heated conversation. His dominance, the Alpha's tone, wasn't going to be argued with. Raphael backed down immediately but his eyes were glowing green with anger.

"He was right. Mother would be disappointed in you," Raphael spat out.

Before either Michel or his dad could reply, Raphael walked away and I hurried to follow. Michel shot me a glare as I passed and I couldn't help but step on his toe for good measure. He barked out a curse and I heard Azriel's quiet laugh from beside me.

"I've missed you," he admitted.

"I've missed you too," I replied softly.

"That's enough of that. We need to find my brother," Raphael announced impatiently.

He passed me the keys and we clambered into an old pick up truck. Raphael tried Cassius' number once again and it went straight to voicemail. I started the car and we were off.

I could only hope against all hope that the four of us would be enough to help.

3rd Person POV

The plan was simple. Use the chaos as an advantage and check each room using the keys Theo had acquired. If the person in the room didn't look insane, free them.

Meet at the entrance to the building when all the rooms had been checked. A solid plan if Cassius had ever heard one. 

Cassius had five people behind him when he opened the last room he had to check. A young boy thrashed violently inside and he quickly shut the door. He wished he could save everyone but he didn't have the cure.

He'd come back though and help everyone else when Laura and Raphael finally found the cure. He wasn't abandoning them. Or at least that's what he reassured himself with. 

Gesturing for the prisoners he'd freed to follow him, he ran back to the entrance. Using his speed, it had taken him all of five minutes to check the ten cells he'd assigned himself too. Desmond and Theo had obviously beaten him and looked at him impatiently.

"I'm not a vampire," Cassius argued.

There were a total of seventeen people that they'd now freed together. Chaos still swirled inside the building but outside, the guard wolves had formed a tight circle around the building's perimeter. Thanks to Cassius' earlier warnings, the number of guards had multiplied to close to twenty.

Almost half the people they'd rescued looked in no condition to fight.

"What are we going to do," Cassius asked worriedly.

"We're going to fight them. You've all been injected with those vials. Use that strength and break through their line. Once you do, head for the trees and don't look back," Desmond instructed.

"They'll kill us," a young girl said.

She looked hardly twelve or thirteen as she looked at the guards outside with mournful eyes. Cassius crouched before her, restraining the anger he felt as he realized that they'd experimented on children. Desmond let out an impatient sigh and Cassius shot him a glare.

"Just stay behind me okay. I'll get you out of here," Cassius vowed.

"I'm scared," the girl admitted.

"Trust me okay. I'll protect you," Cassius said gently.

The girl still looked scared but she didn't argue any further. Cassius stood up and the girl hid her body behind him. Her trembling hand came up to clutch the back of his shirt tightly.

"Okay let's go. Everyone stay behind the three of us," Theo said.

They stepped out of the building as one and the guards turned to them with wide, shocked eyes. Cassius didn't give them a chance to recover before shifting into his wolf. Desmond's hand raked through his fur, a silent vote of confidence, as he crouched into a low fighting position.

The guards converged.

Cassius quickly realized that despite the pep talk Desmond had given them, the people they'd rescued weren't inclined to fight back. Most of them just stayed near the building watching. There was no way the three of them, plus the five or so people fighting alongside them could take down thirty wolves trained for a fight.

He leapt onto a tan wolf but it neatly rolled out of the way before sinking its teeth into his hind leg.

Cassius howled and stumbled away. The tan wolf lunged and Cassius leapt out of the way but not before biting into its shoulder. The tan wolf whined but still fought.

This could go on forever.

These wolves were far more trained than the ones they'd taken down in Virginia. Even then, they'd needed Rafia to rescue them. Cassius heard Desmond's shout and he turned to see him surrounded by three wolves.

Theo was occupied and the tan wolf was still giving Cassius problems.

One second, Cassius could see Desmond clearly and the next he could see nothing but a mass of fur. His heart stopped. In his worry, he didn't see the tan wolf approach.

Just as the tan wolf was about to lunge, a girl leapt in the way, the girl he'd vowed to keep safe.

Cassius looked at her in complete shock. She pushed the wolf away with little to no effort. She could probably make a run for it and she might have even get away.

But she just gave him an uncertain smile before turning towards a grey wolf.

That was the break Cassius needed. He leapt clean over two bodies, people he'd rescued that had tried to escape with no success. He'd mourn for them later.

He threw himself at a brown wolf and bit down hard on its jugular. It thrashed under his grip before eventually going limp. He then rolled a rust colored wolf off Desmond's body. It looked like it was about to attack when it noticed that someone was trying to escape, and had reached the tree line. Cassius tried to stop the wolf but it escaped his grasp and ran after the vampire trying to escape. The vampire was fast though and Cassius hoped he'd get away.

By the time he'd turned around, the last wolf had disappeared as well.

Desmond was completely still. Cassius whined and nudged his head over and over again. Another wolf approached them and Cassius positioned himself protectively over Desmond's body.

Before Cassius could attack, he detected movement in the trees. Almost everyone stopped to look. A tense silence filled the air.

Then, a snow-white leopard entered the clearing and let out a growl that could shake the trees.

New chapter! I hope you guys liked this one. We've finally got Azriel and Catherine's reunion! Not going to lie, it was definitely my favorite part of this chapter. The boys are in trouble though. Will four people be enough to save them? 

Let me know what your favorite part of this chapter was in the comments below. If you liked this chapter don't forget to vote and comment down below. 20 chapters down! Who's your favorite character so far? 

The next chapter will be up soon. Until then, 

LOVE 

ASH