The pack house doesn't look at all like how I expected it to. I thought it would be a huge, sprawling manor, large enough and grand enough to accommodate a pack this size but it isn't. Instead, as we pull up to the address Clyde provided, we find a generic townhouse in the middle of a row of other, identical townhouses. It's old but well maintained with a small grassy lawn surrounded by a white picket fence in the front. It's positioned on the edge of the city and backs onto protected woodlands which must be why they chose this location. Still, it seems a too small and the only explanation I can think of is that this isn't actually the pack house but rather another of their safe houses.

As I'm distracted, staring at the building, Eko comes around the car and opens the door for me. I step out and together we make our way towards the front door.

"Listen," I say, nervously. "Maybe I should take some of your magic before we go in. You know, so I can protect us in case it really is a trap."

"No," Eko says firmly. "For the same reason we did not bring Kravimik. They will sense the magic coming from you and find you to be a threat."

"But not you?"

"You know the control I have of my magic," he says simply.

Sighing heavily, I knock. The sound doesn't even have a chance to reverberate inside the house before the door is yanked open. A girl stands on the other side, smiling brightly at us.

"Welcome," she says, stepping back to allow us entry. "Please come in."

She's young, maybe twenty or so, with short blonde hair and big, doll-like blue eyes. I can tell right away she's human, not just because there's no magic coming from her but also just because of how she looks. There's no cunning in her eyes, no readiness in her stance that would speak to having a wolf.

"Emily!" a familiar voice calls.

It's Clyde. He rushes down a flight of stairs to greet us. For a second, I think he's talking to the girl. Then I remember that Emily is the fake name I gave him at the club.

"Hey Clyde," I grin back at him.

He pulls me into a hug which might have been weird for any other one night stand but Clyde is a wolf which buys him some leeway when it comes to physical affection. He buries his face in my hair, scenting me. I let the hug continue for several heartbeats before pulling away, still smiling at him.

"And this must be the friend you mentioned that needs Alpha Perez's help," he says, finally noticing Eko.

Eko steps forward and extends his hand. "You may call me Eric."

Clyde ignores the hand and pulls Eko into a hug. Eko stands stiffly in the embrace, unsure what to do. He looks relieved when Clyde finally breaks it and steps back.

"Is that an accent I hear?" he asks. "Where are you from, Eric?"

"I believe the english word for it is Greece although we have another name for it in my language," Eko says and I look at him in surprise.

I hadn't really thought about where Eko might have come from. Looking at him though, I suppose he does look Greek with his curly hair and olive skin.

"That's so cool, man. Well, welcome to the pack house," he says, then he turns to the girl. "I've got it from here, Maggie."

"But Alpha told me to-" she begins but Clyde cuts her off.

"You're dismissed."

His tone is finite but not unkind and Maggie obeys, letting him lead us off. He takes us up the stairs and through a door which leads to a long hallway. I can see immediately that my assessment from the outside was inaccurate. This isn't just one townhouse, it's the whole row. They've removed all the walls that separated the units and created one massive house.

Now that we're deeper in the pack house I can feel them. The wolves. Their magic is everywhere, permeating the space and filling it to the brim. I don't even need to try to feed, the stuff just flows into me of its own accord.

As Clyde leads us through the packhouse, he makes friendly conversation with Eko. Does he have any family? Is he enjoying the city? Does he like Isla Tortuga or Greece better? He doesn't seem to really listen to Eko's responses, though, as his attention is fixed so firmly on me. He walks close to me, smiling down at me and there's something a little hungry in his gaze.

The glittering connection of the pack bond forms so slowly and subtly that I don't notice it at first. It's only when I notice the heat that it provides that I realise it's wrapped itself around me. Cautiously, I reach out with my mind and touch the strings. I can feel them though it. All of them. The wolves, their mates, their children. It's incredible. They're speaking through their bonds, too, and it's like listening in on a hundred phone calls at once. I feel a pang as I imagine what it would be like to be a werewolf, never alone, never lonely. Part of a family. Part of a pack.

I shake the thought and force myself to stop feeding. Eko's warnings about the wolves sensing magic and attacking rings through my head. I glance at Clyde but he doesn't seem to have noticed any change in me and he's still chatting idly with Eko. Feeling my eyes on him he turns his attention to me and slides his hand into mine.

Normally, I wouldn't let anyone be so familiar with me, not even a wolf, but I need him on our team so I let him. We reach the end of the hall and a door that's more ornate than any of the others we've passed. Clyde knocks.

"Enter."

The first thought that strikes me as we walk into the room is how much it reminds me of the CEO's office at the warehouse. It has the same ornate mahogany desk, the same touches of gold, the same sense of an inflated ego. The man sitting behind the desk is at odds with this image, though. I recognize him from the club. The Alpha.

He's wearing a white cardigan that looks like it's seen better days and a plain black shirt underneath. His greying brown hair is sticking up on one side as though he's just rolled out of bed and, as he comes around the desk to greet us, his jeans and bare feet become visible.

"This is Emily and Eric, Alpha," Clyde introduces us, bowing his head in respect.

The pact magic inside of me urges me to do the same and I obey, lowering my eyes and waiting for him to speak first.

"Clyde, you're dismissed," Alpha Perez says.

Clyde hesitates but does as he's told.

"Please have a seat."

The two chairs in front of his desk are made from the same, ornately carved wood and I sink into one of them. Eko takes the other.

"So, do you prefer Emily and Eric or should we drop the pretences and jump right to Alexis and Ekonimos?"

My body stiffens, preparing to flee but Eko crosses his legs and leans back, a picture of calm.

"No need for such formality," he says smoothly. "We are all friends here. Lexi and Eko will be fine."

Alpha Perez stares at him hard and I hold my breath, steeling myself for an attack. Then, to my surprise, Alpha Perez lets out a bark of laughter.

"Friends indeed," he says, amusement dancing across his face. "And what makes you say that?"

"If we were not then you would have killed us the second we stepped foot in your territory."

Alpha Perez rubs his chin and regards Eko with interest. "I still might. I'm undecided."

"What's stopping you?" I ask, curiosity overpowering my fear.

His eyes turn to me, unnatural yellow orbs. He cocks his head.

"Two reasons, I suppose," he says, his tone casual. "For one, I find myself in your debt, Lexi."

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "In my debt?"

I rack my brain, trying to think of how this man could possibly be in my debt but I come up black. I've never even spoken to him before.

How do I keep finding myself up to my earlobes in debts lately? Blood pacts, life debts, and now whatever this is.

""Clyde," the Alpha says, gesturing to the closed door of his office. "I'm not sure what you did to him but ever since the two of you..." he clears his throat, "connected, he's been different."

"And a small change in your Beta constitutes the necessity of a debt?" Eko asks, his brows cocked.

"This one does."

He regards us, deciding how much he wants to tell us. I can see the gears working in his head.

He sighs heavily. "Clyde was having problems controlling his wolf. He was resisting my authority, killing without permission, disrupting the stability of the pack. A wolf like that is dangerous not only to the pack but also to the city. People were taking notice. The wrong people. We took him on one last outing so he could prove he could keep control."

"The Labyrinth."

"The Labyrinth," Alpha Perez agrees. "I didn't have high hopes. I thought at the very least even if he managed to keep himself in check for that one night he'd still have a long road to full rehabilitation ahead of him. But when he came home the next day it was like he had a totally different wolf. So calm, so in tune with the pack. At first I thought it was an act but it's been a week since then and he hasn't even stepped a toe out of line. So I figure I owe you at least a meeting. Out of respect for whatever it is you've done to Clyde."

"Are they..." Eko hesitates, "mates?"

"I had the same thought," Alpha Perez replies. "But no. Lucky for you, it seems."

Eko doesn't reply to that but his cheeks grow red and, for some reason, that makes mine go red too.

"You said there were two reasons you did not kill us," Eko says, changing the subject. "What was the other?"

The lighthearted expression on the Alpha's face drops. "I've never condoned the way they used you and the others. I've always kept myself and my pack separate from the Arc's horror show and I don't want to get involved now. Even if they are offering a handsome reward for your capture."

"Used me for their experiments, you mean?"

"For their experiments and for-"

The lights flicker then go out.

"Talk about timing," Alpha Perez mutters as he pulls himself out of his chair.

The only window in the room is small and does little to provide light so the Alpha produces a few candles and lights them. Their flickering lights cast long shadows.

"I'm sure you've noticed the power outages," he grimaces as he takes his seat again. "There are rolling blackouts all over the country now that you've escaped."

I connect the dots before Eko does and gasp. "They were using his magic to power the grid! But why? I thought they were getting enough from the singhers."

The Alpha snorts. "That's what the Arc wants you to think. And if it was just our city maybe it would be enough. But they have all of Isla Tortuga to consider. Whole cities with human dominant populations that can't sustain themselves. Take New Dallas, for example, or anywhere that used to be Canada."

Eko stares at his hands not saying a word. It looks like he might be in shock.

"So why don't they turn the power plants back on?" I demand. "Why steal an innocent man's life?"

"They ran on a platform of coexistence. The peace they've created only works if the Non-Flooded majority feel like they're not only safe from the Flooded but that they're benefitting for their existence as well." He lets out a breath. "I know it was well before your time but some of us still remember when the Flooded and Non-Flooded were at war. When just being suspected of having magic could get you killed."

But it wasn't before my time. I remember all of it, had lived through every second. I look down at my hands, almost expecting to see them covered in blood like they had been so many times. How many innocents had I stitched up just because someone wanted to see how quickly they would heal?

The Alpha continues, not noticing my distraction. "So many of the power plants were damaged in the fighting. Only a few, if any, would even be operational today. The Arc has created a reliance on the Flooded. A reliance on him. It keeps us safe. It's for the greater good."

"So let him volunteer!" I shout, surging to my feet. "Let him choose if he wants to help or not!"

"I will not," Eko says and it's so quiet I almost don't hear. "I have lost most of my life for this, so called, greater good. First in the seal and then beneath the Arc's fist. I want to live my own life. I will not be used."

His eyes fall on me and guilt sends a shiver down my spine. How am I any better than the Arc, stealing people's magic from them? I push the thought away, not ready to face it.

"Then the Arc could increase the amount it takes from the Flooded. The singhers-"

"The Flooded are already upset but the restriction put in place by the Arc. There's talk of rebellion in the south."

I shake my head. "Something else, then. There has to be a solution."

"He's their solution," Alpha Perez says, pointing a finger at Eko.

"Then they need to find a new solution that doesn't involve slavery!"

The silence that follows hangs heavy in the air. We stand, staring at each other.

I take a deep breath and try to calm myself. "Eko has a device inside of him that blocks his access to his magic."

The Alpha nods. "Yes, I was told it was designed especially for him."

"You seem to know many things," Eko says, his voice laced with venom.

"I'm told only as much as I need to know."

"Can you help us remove it?" I ask.

"No, it's beyond my power but I-"

His face takes on a far away look and I know he's listening to his pack. I listen too. Five black SUVs, no plates.

I have Eko on his feet and halfway to the door in a flash. I'm not quick enough for a wolf, though, and Alpha Perez is around the desk and blocking the door so fast he's a blur.

"Do you want to know why I know so much about you?" he asks. "It's because I was told to expect you. They know you need someone powerful to remove that device for you."

"And now you're going to capture us and hand us over?" I demand.

He stares at me, yellow eyes boring into me. I wonder if he's going to shift and try to kill me. After all, he doesn't need me alive, just Eko. I wonder if I'll be able to fight back.

Then he does something unexpected. He steps aside.

"No," he says. "I'm not."

"I don't understand," I say, not taking a step forward in case it's a trap.

"I don't either," he admits. "But I think I know now what's changed in Clyde. There's something about you, Lexi. Something I can't explain. The pack bond... your presence here... it's... well, I'm not sure what it is but you're worth protecting."

A knock on the front door hits my ears. I shouldn't be able to hear it this far away but can. Alpha Perez can too.

"I can't help Eko but I have information that can. The girl, Amaelia, I know where she is. We can get you out of here and you can go find her."

His face takes on a worried edge and I know what he's thinking. The Arc has the packhouse surrounded and there's no way out. But that's where he's wrong. One of the SUVs isn't like the others. I can see the driver through the pack's eyes and I know we have a way out.