Jacob Vanguard POV

Shalom was gone, vanished in the chaos of a battle between Ravers and Demonus Fae and so was Richard and the remaining Monarch Mountain Ravers. My wolf tried not to snarl in my mind about our missing mate and pup. Richard carried off the redeemed Fae when he fled so I tried to be patient and not jealous that he would be with my mate while I was stranded here. My grandfather attacked the high Demonus Clan Leader and died so they could escape, but in the moments before his death, he stripped my brother of his rank and made me the Monarch. I did not want this burden, I just wanted to find my mate and son.

"Alpha Commander... I... I mean Monarch VanGuard," the chief doctor of the Monarchy Pack seemed nervous. "Your brother is stable but... his leg... We can't fix it. I need to amputate it, but he is refusing."

Closing my eyes, I thought about the jet flight back and James' insistence that he not lose the limb. "Pin it back together as best as you can."

"But Monarch, the bone is shattered, splintered. It's in a dozen larger pieces with dozens of tiny fragments of bone just floating in the blood and fluid from the muscular damage and swelling." He shook his head, "It can't be repaired, it will never heal properly. The risk of infection..."

"My brother was adamant that he did not want to be an amputee. Fix it the best you can and if it needs to come off later, I will convince him." As I watched the doctor leave, I knew James's leg needed to come off, but he was a strong wolf, a Monarch wolf, and we had time for him to get used to the idea that his leg would never heal properly.

"You should have just told them to hack it off," Saul announced gruffly as he sipped a cup of black coffee.

"How's the throat?" I retorted.

"Healing." Saul looked out the window. During the battle for Monarch Mountain, a Demonus tried to rip his head off. Fae healing repaired the tissue damage before he could bleed out but there was a nasty scar. He sniffed the air then cautioned, "Stop worrying and being jealous or you'll start seeing red and rage."

"Jake."

I turned to look at Will; he looked a lot older than his nineteen years. Mate loss aged a wolf, and the way he lost his on the Revelation Night. No wolf could bear that guilt. I again wondered what Merle Greyson did to my youngest brother's soul so he could endure. He held out a folder.

"The satellites didn't see where she went once she drove away. The clouds over the whole state are still dissipating but the satellites can't see through them and the techs don't know why."

"Those damned Fae," I muttered.

"Richard will keep Shalom safe," Saul insisted.

"Are you sure? You saw how he reacted when I ordered him to take her to the last shoal of werebears on the west coast." I hoped he would do what I commanded. The Ursa Splenius were the only species on the planet that Demonus Fae would not tangle with. Pinching between my eyes, I made myself relax. I just needed to be patient and trust her red cloak would protect them from being found if he didn't.

Will and Saul glanced at each other, then Saul asked, "Do you want us to head back, see if I can find her trail?"

I thought about all the angles and the enemy in the Monarchy's structure. I knew there were spies but not who they were. Someone told the High Demonus who wanted my son where we were and that we were all together.

"Jake?" Will interrupted my thoughts.

"No. We can't take the chance of leading the enemy to them, like James did. We need to figure out who the traitors are first." I turned to look out at the city beyond our reflection in the window but my wolf focused on the translucent image of the only two wolves I knew with one hundred percent certainty that I could trust. I was the new monarch of the North American Werewolves, and I had a lot of house cleaning to do.

VvvvvV

Quinn Shalom POV...

The view from the century old farm greeted me as I made breakfast for Chelsey and myself. Before dawn, Richard and the surviving Monarch Mountain Ravers showed up with a wounded fae. Galen was the cursed fae who had told me to stop drinking the tea when I was held prisoner by Mr. Black at the manor in the mountains.

"Morning," Chelsey yawned her greeting as she dusted off a coffee mug. Pouring a cup of coffee from the enamel pot on the stove, she searched for sugar.

I smiled as I handed her the mason jar. "This place is stocked for winter. Do you want sugar or flavored powdered creamer? There are jars in the pantry."

"Both," Chelsey groaned, going to the door. "I hate mornings." She sounded so much the stereotypical teen that I felt a sudden pang.

I missed my own teenagers, but Molly and Miles died on the Revelation Night. Swallowing, I turned back toward the oatmeal and stirred it. "I hope you like dried dates and raisins in your oatmeal... We need to go through the cabinets and freezers."

"I can't believe Richard had all this prepared ahead of time, but then Mom always kept six months of dry good in the basement," Chelsey murmured over the side of her mug, blowing on the steaming liquid. "I can smell the mice have been in there." She pointed at the pantry.

"Me too... I don't know if he did." I told her as I lifted the powdered vanilla creamer jar. "This is the same brand they had at the pack. I think he started stocking this place after I got to Monarch Mountain. It's all stuff I used when we were there."

Chelsey sat up straighter. "How did he know?"

I sighed as I looked out at the fog burning off the bright green fields of summer hay and the dark green of cedars contrasted with the blond stone of the rock formations and cliffs. I saw Richard's giant red Raver wandering the edge of the field then disappearing into the woods.

"I don't know." I took the oatmeal off the stove and made three bowls. "Let's eat. then we'll start cleaning. From the pantry, I think Richard plans for us to spend the winter here."

Chelsey groaned, "Aww man, I wanted to spend it on a beach somewhere with my mate. He hasn't seen me in a bikini." Then she giggled at my look, "I know... no mating until we're eighteen, but he's so cute. I hit the mate jackpot."

Shaking my head, I wondered again about why Galen sent her into the Quarantine Zone alone. She could have been killed and eaten by other Ravers if Will and Nicolea hadn't saved her. I made a tray to take to the Fae, I needed to have a stern talk with him about putting people at risk and I needed to ask him about Gerard. Carrying the tray, down the hall, I stood in the door looking in at the Redeemed Fae. He looked so young, but I knew he was nearly immortal. He looked so different from the time I met him before.

"Are you just going to stare at me?" Galen asked. He opened his eyes and I gasped. They had been almost black they were so dark, and now there was a golden ring in the center and almost a star-burst radiating out from it. He sat up against the headboard and groaned in a very human way. He looked clammy and pale, utterly miserable.

"Can I get you some ibuprofen or something?"

"No, it's just the residue of my brother's evil working its way out of my system. Bring your breakfast in here, Shalom. I need to tell you about how my brother was blessed, and I was cursed, and why."

VvvvvV

Being near me and my scarlet cloak hid Galen as he recovered from being cursed and carrying his brother's evil for decades. I learned a lot about Gerard; I had been so lucky to escape him with my son and our souls. Chelsey also paid close attention and asked more questions than I did. It was clear very quickly that Galen was struggling not to hate his brother after all he had been through.

Two days later, Greyson arrived with three heavily sedated werewolf Ravers who quickly assimilated into my pack and some interesting news, before he went back to Westcliff to continue his research. He and Lance had found a possible launch point for the attack. They were finally on the trail of the ELM. Greyson said it was more than just external level manipulation as Kenneth referred to it. Greyson believed it was another pharmaceutical or organic medicinal. I prayed he and Lance could find the truth before there was another attack. Galen and Greyson did some fae magical thing that would hide us before the fae left to search for more answers.

VvvvvV

Two weeks later...

Fae Petra Lumin entered the werewolf monarch's office and inclined her head to Jacob Van Guard. "Monarch Jacob, your brother is recovering from anesthesia and the amputation of his leg. The doctors say the infection should go into remission now. Can I bring you anything before I go visit James?"

The new monarch just stared out the window at the sky as he answered, "No, Petra. Thank you. You know you don't have to be here. Go and stay with James."

"Monarch Jacob, I have served as James' aide and friend for the two decades since your parents' deaths. I know my duty and I am happy to help you as I did him," Petra used the same luring voice that had always worked to sooth James, but the color of Jacob's aura turned to annoyed.

"No need." Jacob turned to look at her and she could see his suspicions in his aura. "Petra, did you tell any Fae where we were or that James was going to Monarch Mountain?"

She pretended to be shocked and offended, "I would never put James at risk or reveal Monarchy business to anyone."

Jacob appraised her then nodded. "Forgive me, but I had to ask."

"I understand... Are you worried about the Dark Fae? You know we Light Fae want peace as much as everyone else."

"I know... Petra, there is a Demonus clan leader looking for my son. A blessed one who tried to kill me and my brother." Jake inhaled slowly, withdrawing into his thoughts as he muttered, "He is the reason behind everything... I know he is, and I will find him before he causes another Revelation Night type disaster."

"I will help you in any way I can." She vowed.

"James said you tried to talk him out of coming to Monarch Mountain." He watched her with the keen eye of a predator as she nodded and responded, "Brothers should not fight against each other. He let his fear for the future of the Van Guard Monarchy cloud his judgement."

Neither he nor his wolf could detect any deception in her, so he dismissed her, "Have a good evening, Petra."

"Goodnight, Monarch Jacob."

"Petra... just call me Jake." He requested but his distrust glowed in his aura like a shield.

"Yes, Monarch Jake. Rest well."

After she walked out of the Monarchy Offices, she went to her flat then stepped through a traveling mirror to her clan's home. Going straight to Gerard's wing, she schooled her features to not look shocked at how quickly Gerard was decaying. A glamor kept his outer appearance almost the same, but his aura was terrifying.

"Well?" He demanded with eyes the color of polished obsidian.

"I will not be able to influence Jacob as I did James. He is too distrustful."

"Has Quinn contacted him?"

"No, Master. Nor has she contacted Beta Saul or the Ascended Demonus Nicolea. She has also not arrived at any place owned by the Monarchy or to Westcliff. Wherever she is, she is keeping herself hidden," Petra explained. She watched his aura shifting as he schemed.

"William told James the Ravers would just wander out of the woods and find her?"

"Yes, Master." Petra held herself rigidly to not shiver as the temperature of the room dropped.

Gerard smiled malevolently, murmuring, "Perhaps we can use the beasts to our advantage. Have Liam go to the Distillery outside New Orleans then to the Cades Depot site. I think I need him to make me some new Ravers but we need to keep these weak like the beasts they are made from."

Petra bowed to him, then she walked out. Shivering after she closed the door, she resisted the urge to run back to the traveling mirror. The whole time she had been in his presence, she could feel her life-glow slowly siphoning away and wisping toward Gerard. His inner self was starving and that terrified her. She and her brother Liam were strong together but nothing like the son of Morgana and Nostradamus. He could kill them and consume their souls, and would without a second thought. She stepped through and went back to her apartment. Pulling her messaging mirror out, she touched the corner and spoke his true name. Black swirls appeared on the edges. First she saw his eyes then his face.

"Yes, sister?"

"Gerard has a task for you. He wants you to make more Ravers but ones that are weaker that those spawned in Colorado," Petra revealed then she told him Gerard's orders.

"So I get to play mad scientist like my ward's demented, departed father... Fun." Liam smirked, I was getting bored since the last three Ravers vanished from the quarantine hospital and Mid-America pack."

"Did you ever find out who took them?" Petra asked, "The monarchy has no idea where they went or how they escaped. Was it another Fae?"

"If it was, they didn't use the main traveling mirror, but it doesn't matter. I was at a dead end with them." Liam glanced away and frowned, "She's almost done with her spa day. She wants to see Gerard."

"No, she doesn't. Keep her away, or he might consume her soul. We need her influence and public persona to hide we are using her father's pharmaceutical empire," Petra said as she went into her kitchen to take out a container of James's favorite pasta. He believed she cooked it just for him. He had never once suspected that she fetched it from a café in Italy. "I have to get back to the hospital. Shadows protect you, brother."

"And you, sister." Liam vanished from sight. Putting the mirror away, Petra sprayed herself with the perfume she had spent two decades enthralling James with. He would wake from his surgery, eat, and then tell her everything he knew about the search for Quinn Shalom Phillips and her son.

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Here we go...