Ivy's POV

"Scooch your booch, Emily. We have to get going. I still have so much to do." I tell Emily as soon as she enters our room. "It's already 3:15 and Asher is going to be there by about 6, so I'm running out of time." I whine.

"Get your panties out of a twist woman, I already have my things ready. I just need to change clothes really quick and then we can go. If you were in this much of a hurry you should have just ridden with Brock and Brandon." She huffs as she goes to her closet.

I don't tell her that I only stayed so that I could escort her onto my pack lands. I almost didn't invite her to the party because she will be the only other human there apart from Asher. He has gotten used to seeing wolves around so no one has to worry about shifting. I decided to invite her though because she has still been acting standoffish and I really want to be closer. So after warning the pack on the threat of dismemberment to either remain in human form or stay out of sight, I asked her to come. I was surprised by how eagerly she agreed but pleased that she was going to be there to celebrate my mate's birthday.

I turn to check my bag, making sure I have everything and giving Emily privacy to change. When I turn back to her, I'm stunned. She is always cute, but right now she is breathtaking. She is wearing a knee-length dark green lace dress paired with black high-heels. She let her hair down from the bun that it was in and it is flowing down her back with a slight wave, the glossy brown perfectly complementing the green of her dress.

^^Emily's dress^^

"Wow, Emily. You look beautiful. I've never seen you wear a dress before." I gush.

She smiles her trademark shy smile as she ducks her head. "Well, I've never met your family before and I wanted to look nice." I can tell there is more to it, but before I can question her, she continues," Besides, this is a party isn't it? People wear dresses to parties."

" I didn't mean you shouldn't." I say quickly," I am just surprised is all. You do look amazing, though. Did you remember to pack the clothes I gave you for later?"

"Yep. They are in the bag I already put in my car." Emily grabs her purse before turning to me. "Ready when you are."

"Ok, come on."

When we get to the parking lot, I quickly slide into the passenger's seat while shoving my bag onto the back seat next to Emily's as she gets into the driver's seat. She tells me to buckle up before pulling out of the lot and then we are off. Thirty minutes later we pull up to the gate and upon seeing me, the guard lets us in.

As we reach the house, I see two of my pack-mates hanging a banner over the front entrance that reads "Happy Birthday Asher!" in bright blue. Heading inside I go straight to the kitchen to check on the progress of dinner. The room is bustling when we walk in, food and people everywhere. The scent of spices is heavy in the air from the large variety of Mexican dishes, Asher's favorite food, that I asked some of the pack females to prepare. I thank them before pulling Emily through the house to the backyard to check on the rest of the preparations.

*Hey, where are you?* I ask Keegan through the pack-link when I don't see him.

*Just with a few warriors doing a perimeter run before the party starts. We've still been seeing wolves from the Black Forest Pack hanging around just outside our boundaries and I want to make sure none sneak past while the party is going on. I was hoping that the warning that I sent back with the she-wolf that you caught in your room would stop this nonsense. But don't worry, I will shift back and get dressed before I come close to the house. Don't want to scare your little human friend.* He responds sounding grumpy.

*Aw, cheer up buttercup! This party is going to be fun and you know it. And Emily is nice, you'll like her.* I say with a laugh.

*Yeah yeah. When Asher arrives, I will head that way.* He tells me.

Shaking my head, I lead Emily to my big surprise for Asher's party. I had several of the men set up an area of the woods for - wait for it- Nighttime Paintball! It has two flagged towers set up on opposite sides of the blocked off area with several hiding places between. There are glow in the dark arrows painted on all of the trees surrounding the course to keep anyone from accidentally leaving the designated area. I bought glow in the dark paintballs for everyone, and night vision riflescopes to attach to Emily's and Asher's guns so that they would be able to see. I really hope Asher likes this.

Once I confirm that everything is in order, Emily and I head back towards the house. I pull my phone out when I feel it buzz.

ASHER - On my way

ME - Ok, baby. See you soon

Slipping my phone back into my pocket, we rejoin the ladies in the kitchen to help put the finishing touches on the meal. When we have everything ready and set up in the dining hall I glance at the clock. My brow furrows when I notice that Asher is running late. He should have been here twenty minutes ago. I send him a text asking where he is and when he doesn't respond, I call his number. It goes straight to voicemail. Trying not to panic I reach out to the guard at the gate.

*Hey, have you seen any sign of Asher? He should be here by now.* I send.

*Nothing yet.* Is Felix's immediate response.

I continue my attempts at calming myself as I try my brother next. *Keegan, Asher isn't here and I have a bad feeling about it. Could you send a couple of warriors to scout the road? I don't want him to be stuck out there broken down or something.*

*I sent Daryl and Noah. I'm almost back to the house.* He says.

I go outside to wait for Keegan. He walks up to the house five minutes later to find me pacing at the front door. He pulls me into his arms for a quick hug before he suddenly stiffens. He steps back with an intense look on his face.

"What is it?" I ask him worriedly, thinking that he must have gotten word about Asher.

"I smell my mate. My mate is here." His response shocks me out of my worry.

"What?!? Wait, it has to be Emily. She is the only person here that you've never met. Take it easy though Keegan. She is human and she is my friend." I tell him seriously right before Emily steps out the front door to join us. I swear I can see the hearts in his eyes as he takes her in.

Just as Keegan goes to speak I catch sight of Noah running full speed towards the house. In wolf form. And Emily is right here. I'm about to turn to reassure her when Noah shifts mid-run and says something that brings me to my knees.

"Alpha! We found Asher's car about ten miles out and he wasn't in it. We found some of his blood and scented that blonde wolf that you questioned but the scent disappears a few feet from his car." Noah rushes out.

"No!" I scream," No no no! They can't have him. Keegan, we have to get him back."

"I might be able to help." I hear from behind me. I turn to see a fidgeting Emily. I just now think about the fact that she had to have just seen Noah shift. I open my mouth but nothing comes out. I don't know how to explain what she just witnessed when I can't stop freaking out about someone having my mate. She must understand my dilemma because, with a reassuring smile, she says," Relax Ivy, I know what you are. I have for almost the entire time I have known you. It's obvious when you know what to look for. But that isn't important right now. We need to get Asher back before something worse happens, and I can help. You see, I'm a witch, a pretty powerful one actually. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, but I had my reasons and now is not the time to get into it. If you get me a few things I can cast a locating spell." She says, leaving me bewildered.

I snap myself out of my shock quickly and ask, " What do you need?"

" I need something of his and a couple of drops of your blood. Being as he is your mate, your connection to him will make my spell stronger. Everything else is in my bag." She answers. " I will grab my bag from the car and meet you in that clearing behind the house."

Without another word I turn and run into the house and up to my room. Snatching Asher's sweater, yes I kept it because I like to cuddle it so get over it, from beneath my pillow I race to the backyard. I find Emily sitting on the ground as she draws symbols that I don't recognize in the dirt with what looks like a fancy dagger.

"What is that?" I ask her as I hand over Asher's sweater.

"It's my athame. It helps me channel my magic." She says as she completes a circle with the markings and wipes the athame down with antibacterial gel and a cloth that she pulls from her bag. " Okay, I hope you don't mind that this sweater will be ruined. Give me your hand." When I obey, she runs the blade over my palm causing blood to well up. She places the sweater into the circle before holding my hand over it, allowing my blood to drip down. I can hear her whispering something as she does this but I can't understand what she is saying.

^^Emily's athame.  For those that don't know, an athame is a ceremonial double-edged dagger used in witchcraft.^^ 

When she is done speaking, she releases my hand and retrieves a box of matches from her bag. With a few more whispered sounds, she drops a lit match onto the sweater. The flame immediately envelops the entire circle, scorching the earth as it lets off an eerie green glow. Looking back to Emily I see the same green light shining through her eyes in tiny pinpricks as she stares blankly ahead. After a moment her eyes begin to quickly shift from left to right in fast movements. In seconds the circle is empty of anything but the now black symbols that Emily drew.

Emily's eyes return to normal after a few minutes and she looks at me. "I know where he is. Open your mind to me and I will show you."

I nod and relax my mental barriers. Emily places her forehead against mine and closes her eyes so I do the same. Almost immediately I start seeing flashes of images. A road sign from the highway leading towards us. Asher's abandoned car. A black car with no license plate. An unconscious Asher in the trunk of a car with blood dripping down his face from a gash near his temple. A road leading south of our territory. A small unkempt path through the trees just big enough for a vehicle to pass. A pack house surrounded by around 20 wolves. Asher tied to a chair in a basement as the crazy she-wolf from my dorm room looks on. I snap back to myself.

"Ok, I've got it. You stay here. We are going to get him back. Thank you." I say as I pull her into a quick hug and dash back toward the house, stripping out of my clothes as I run.

'Don't worry Emmy, they won't get away with this.' I tell Emersyn savagely as I throw myself into the shift. 'Black Forest Pack will be nothing but ash when I'm done.'

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