Ch. 471..480

Chapter 0471

"First, because we are guests here, we get permission for every ounce of surveillance equipment we use and give full access to you. It's a policy my team and I have. Second, we do not use off the shelf tech." make a face. When did I become a tech snob? "We modify all of our tech to suit our needs. Each mission is different, so the surveillance needs to fit. Do you want to tell me what you really found outside my window?"

They all just stare at me. Luna Ava looks stressed. She doesn't want to believe that I or anyone I would bring into the pack would cause them harm, but she won't go against her mate and Alpha. The twins have never looked at me like this before. They are angry, furious with me, and they look disgusted at the sight of me. It takes everything I have to keep my focus on Alpha Lucas. His stare has been unwavering during my interrogation.

He sets a small device I have never seen before on his desk, my confusion must show. "It's a homing device used to pinpoint locations. Our team found it outside your window after the attack. They also found that the signal matched one we found in another body parts drop from a few months back. Did you lock Kaley up after informing her of your time with the Rogue King and his guards where he mated you both?" "SON OF A B*TCH!!! I AM GOING TO KILL HER!!"

"NO!!" I had to put all my force into making Jena stay put. "She will get hers, she's crossed the line now. But we will not be the people she claims we are. Nathaniel, I need proof it was her, now!! Send it to the Alpha's computer. Hack his sh*t. He's being played more than we are.

"I am disappointed in you Alpha, all of you." I stay dangerously calm. "She harmed pups to try and get herself to a safe room that doesn't even exist. Believing rumors, you yourself put out there. When she was confronted, she remained disrespectful. Delta Gwen, her Aunt, placed her in a cell so she would calm down and we could tend to the pups. Jena told Kaley of her abduction and subsequent r*pe by Mike. Kaley spun that information to her advantage. Both her and her father know what equipment we use. I am glad to see where I fall in your trust hierarchy. My team and I should not be under suspicion. We have done nothing but protect this pack since we have been here. After everything you know I've been through and had to overcome. All the things done to me that were allowed to go unnoticed and unpunished by the four of you. You are going to question my loyalty to this pack? With all due respect, F*ck You!"

"Got it!"

"Let's do this, I think I'm about to get kicked out anyway."

"Look at your monitor, sir. My team was able to find the culprits. They were able to do the job you all can't seem to do correctly while being held captive in their rooms." The looks of shock show on all their faces. "Stop underestimating me and I will stop proving you all wrong."

The screen lights up and it's four camera views. One from the hallway outside where Kaley is placing the fake camera up in a corner pointing towards the door to look like we are watching the comings and goings of the Alpha.

"Pause it there Nathaniel, we are going to do a tutorial while this goes." My whole team laughs.

"I wish I could see their faces." Lil whines.

"I'll record it."

"First notice that it is placed so it can be easily seen. When my team does plant devices, they don't get found."

"Prove it." Cameron growls.

"Yes, sir." I point to different corners of the room and as I do Nathaniel flashes the live feed on Alpha Lucas' computer.

"You have been watching us?!" Luna Ava says shocked.

My eyebrows come together in a look of disbelief. "Now that the tables have turned, you are surprised? Someone has been manipulating you both for years. Of course I have always had my suspicions, but no proof. You both allow too many things to go on unchecked in your pack. I figured it was blackmail and was trying to get proof to set you free." I shrug.

"How dare you?" Dakota slams his fist on his father's desk. But Alpha Lucas stops him.

"You are onto something, but I have my reasons for my actions and you are not privy to them." He is direct in his answer, not accusing or mean. I just move on, I need to get away from all of them.

"Next, as I have already shown you, they do not work, they are dummy cameras. There are no lights or wires to indicate a power source, basic point that anyone could look for. And whoever took it down should have had trouble detaching it from the wall, but it was probably put up there with double sided tape. You were duped." I roll my eyes. "As for the beacon, when were you told it was in my room?"

"After Kaley was released, she and Kevin had a meeting here to discuss what she had heard in the tunnel." Alpha Lucas looks uncertain. "We found it while we did a full search of the packhouse today."

"Was it only warriors that helped

with the search or was it all hands on deck, except for my team?" Their looks tell me everything I need to know, but task anyway. "Who

searched my room? Was shot bet

herself since 'she probably wouldn't find anything anyway and it will keep her busy?" I air quote. "So you let the one person who hates me the most, and is not quiet about it search my room for something planted by a potential traitor?" Now I'm the one disgusted.

The screen flashes again. Nathaniel speaking from his prison. It's the feed from my room this morning. Kaley walks.in and closes the door and starts to look around, touching literally everything in the room. She picks up one of Cam's sweatshirts and smells it before shivering. After examining for way too long, she moves to my window and opens it, pulling the device out of her pocket, not being secretive at all.

She places it on the window sill and then starts calling for someone. There isn't any sound but Alpha Lucas, my dad and a few pack warriors come in. I can see the smug look on her face at my dad's reaction. He is angry, yelling who knows what and pointing from my bed to the device, to outside. Clearly emphasizing his distaste for me.

I just stand there letting tears run down my face. I don't know why this let down feels any different than the last time. I make a circling motion over my head. My signal for my team to pack their stuff. We can't leave the pack yet, our orders were to stay here until the threat has been neutralized. We will just take one of the houses on the pack border and continue doing our jobs as assigned.

 

Chapter 0472

"I have never done anything except work to protect this pack. I was abused and neglected and I still kept going. I left to get stronger, hoping it would be enough." I start in a whisper, but I can feel my anger grow and my voice begins to match. "I have been here for months, allowing and helping your warriors to get stronger. My team is the best team the Alpha King has. We have busted our asses and helped plan the extra patrol routes and the evacuation routes. I designed and implemented the tunnel build as an escape or a safe space for the pups and your Luna. All as assigned by you and the Alpha King himself. Who I will remind you I CAN'T DECEIVE." I show my warrior brand to them. "If I wanted to harm the pack, I would have done it when I first got here, when you all were weak and disorganized, not months later." Alpha Lucas hangs his head, Luna Ava has her hand over her mouth. The twins are frozen, and I can't find it in me to feel bad for any of them. I can't feel a thing, my tears have stopped and I am numb, except for anger. And in anger, I do the one thing I never thought I would.

I rip my shirt and sports bra off and turn away from them. "This is what you are rewarding. You are rewarding a serial abuser and narcissist. I was twelve when Kaley had me dragged to the old greenhouse. She had two guys string me up by my wrists while she whipped me with a silver tipped whip, then for good measure used silver powder in the wounds hoping I would die slowly. Then she dragged me out to the woods where I was for two days, because no one looks for the girl no one wants around anyway. When I did survive she just made sure I was in a constant state of injury." I pull my sports bra back on, I'm not hiding anymore. "The night of the ball two years ago, I was changing in the locker room when I was attacked. There was no scent to warn me. This time she was only there to give instructions. She didn't want to get her dress dirty, she needed to be presentable for the Alphas when their date stood them up and she needed to rescue them." I pin the guys with a look. "Everyone's problem is they still see me as weak and they see her as stupid. Neither of us are what people believe and your pack is suffering for it."

I turn as the knock on the door sounds. I open it to see my team seething on the other side.

"What's going on?" Mateo sounds distraught as he and Oliver run down the hall followed by Sierra and Sam. They were left out of this too.

"I think your Alphas have pressing pack matters to discuss with you, there is a traitor in the pack. Let's move, we have patrols to run." I say to my team.

Lil hands me my bag and we all walk towards the front door.

"Wait, Bitty, what's going on? Where are you going?"

"Don't leave, I'm sure this is a misunderstanding." Mateo shouts.

I don't look back. The ranks are being divided. The guys never used to keep secrets from each other. This is really bad, but I can't save them from themselves. We make it to the front door, with everyone following based on the sheer volume of the footsteps.

"Oliver, tell Lily I had a mission and I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye." I look over my shoulder at him. He looks close to tears, shaking his head.

"Don't do this Bitty, not again." He whispers.

"It's not again. I wasn't given a choice last time, I was removed from the pack for everyone else's safety, since clearly all the problems surround me." I look at my brother then, Sam and Sierra. I don't know wha they know or think is going on, but no one else moves to stop me. So, they either agree or have an Alpha command to stay put.

Wyatt moves around me to open the door and as if someone conjured them, Kaley and her father are walking up the porch.

"Awe, is our little traitor and her gang being cast out in the middle of the night. Have fun living as rogues."

Wyatt snarls and it takes both Jena and I to restrain him back.

"Bunch of heathens. No wonder the Alpha King has you on killing duty, it's all you're good for." Kevin waves his hand up and down Wyatt.

"We aren't rogues and we aren't

heathens, you manipulating morons.

Your pack was just attacked, we

have sh*t to do" Lil explains simply grabbing Wyatt's bag and leading us out. And, just for the record, Katey, come near any of us and we will treat

you with the same kindness as

you have shown Skylar. And

remember this, we are all experts."

"How dare you threaten me!" She screams, I'm sure waking people up to witness our departure. "Are you going to let her threaten me like that?" She looks at everyone, but her dad is the one dumb enough to step close to us.

"You are no longer welcome on our pack grounds or in this pack house, leave and do not return. I don't know how you get away with threatening a future Luna, but we won't stand for it."

Again, no sound from any of the

ranked members watching from the porch. That's when I see it, a flash.

ét

The smallest thing, I never would have noticed before, like a bubble that catches the sunlight just right and reflects a rainbow. There is some kind of barrier up, maybezan illusion so they aren't seeing what is really happening, but if that's the case then he has underestimated my abilities. I don't understand why it seems to be working the most on the Alpha and just occasionally on everyone else. Even Sierra is stuck on the porch. Mateo looks heartbroken, but Oliver is staring right at me. Our bond clearly stands the test of all boundaries and

barriers.

I shake my head slightly at him then shift my focus and step forward, I can feel the wild smile on my face growing menacingly. "You have chosen the wrong enemy." I say allowing my full beta and royal auras out together.

They both begin to sink to the

ground as if & weight is pushing on their heads. Neither can fight it, eyes wide looking terrified for the first time. They may have Delta blood, but they don't have an aura to even resist me. Kaley's nose starts to bleed.

"You will never be anyone's Luna. You will both pay for your crimes against this pack."

I turn and we all walk away. I'm still too numb to cry and like Lil said, we have sh*t to do.

 

Chapter 0473

Weeks go by, nothing is right. Everyone is tense and the whole pack is reacting to the tension. We keep our distance as best we can, but my team and the guys cross paths regularly during training and running patrols.

Oliver has tried to talk to me a couple times, but I just head in the other direction. He knows things shouldn't be like this. I'm pretty sure he's the only one who saw through whatever enchantment was on the packhouse. I just can't do it, he is the only one who sees the problem for what it is. The rest are just angry and aggressive, but we still don't know what they believe.

The Elite warriors fully run pack training now. None of the ranked guys show up at all, not even Delta Kyle, and I haven't seen Sierra since the night we left and I can't get a hold of her, but that doesn't stop me from messaging her and Mina every night. With no response from any of them.

I am surrounded by people and have a job to do and I still feel so isolated and alone. The depression is taking its toll. Jena and I have started staying together again. The nightmares are so bad that we sleep in the same bed most nights holding hands. We need our guys, but something magical is keeping them from us and we can't risk being pulled in.

I was able to link Osiston and fill him in on what is happening. He said he will inform Alpha Reggie, but they aren't going to send anyone and possibly cause suspicion. He agrees something magical is going on and will have Elena work on it.

I have been trying to use my magic and even that seems to be tied to how I feel and I can't make the most basic things work. I am sitting out by the little fire pit in the backyard of the house we are staying in, just trying to move the ashes around.

"You don't really want to and the magic knows it. It won't work for you like this."

I jump from my spot on the ground, fully ready to fight Oliver.

He has his hands up. "I just want to talk, I need to know your version of why you left. I know what I saw and what we are being told are two different things. "You aren't a traitor, but you are more powerful than you let on. Talk to me Bitty."

He walks next to me and sits facing the unlit pit.

I wave my hand flippantly, but it ignites, much to my surprise and Oliver's.

"Hey! Some warning next time please." He adjusts back to a sitting position now that the flames are at a normal height.

"I didn't do that." I whisper. "I mean, I didn't mean to do that." I move to sit on the opposite side of the fire from him. "I haven't been able to make any magic work since that night."

"Well, you're talking to me, so that's a start. Tell me what went down. The last thing I remember is you and the twins walking downstairs to see the Alpha. Cam said they had information and needed to deal with it privately. I thought maybe they were going to tell you that you were their mate and for some reason they were able to sense it early or something."

"Are you f*cking kidding?! No, they brought me in to tell me that I'm a traitor and that they could prove it." I don't know what in that moment made me start talking after weeks of silence, but I told him everything that I could remember from that night, down to the shimmer around the packhouse.

"Damn! And the four of them just ganged up on you like that. That makes more sense than what I was picturing."

"That all makes sense to you? I know Kevin and Kaley are behind The Alpha thinking I am a traitor. I can see how that would be possible since he is an advisor and had been closely working with the Alpha on everything in the pack, but the Luna and the guys? I don't understand."

"I see it the other way around. Kevin is the leader of the school board. Why the f*ck is he talking to the Alpha about anything related to warriors or pack protection? He isn't an elder or a warrior. He really doesn't need to have that much time with the Alpha. With the guys, they are going with what their Alpha says and trusting his judgment. But even that is off. They are almost brainless idiots. They are slow to make decisions and can't focus for very long on anything, like they are waiting for instructions. That's actually why we stopped coming to training, Luna Ava said we need to keep them out of the pack's eye until we can figure out what is going on."

"Yep, gotta protect that pack image." I say sarcastically.

"Or maybe she wants to keep the pack morale up and seeing the twins acting completely out of character would cause panic to start to spread throughout the pack causing more chaos. She is protecting the pack the best way she can being under house arrest. She sent me over today, you know. Told me not to come back until I talked to you. She wants to know if you're okay."

"What do you mean house arrest? Why would she be under house arrest? Why would she care? She just sat there and let them accuse me of bringing the rogues here. Even with proof!"

"According to the Alpha it isn't safe for her to leave the packhouse so he has an Alpha command on her to stay put. She's a smart lady and figured out ways around the command though." He points to himself. "It's why Lenny comes over everyday too. Obviously she wants to make sure you are fed, but she comes back and tells us how you are doing."

"Sneaky!" I roll my eyes.

"We are all doing the best that we

can. Right now we have good

reason to believe that the Alpha is under some kind of spell." He

mumbles low. "I don't even have the ability to mindlink with you now, because we are forbidden by Alpha command. And as far as proof, no one else was in that room and their memories don't seem to be the best. Another reason we think there is a spell or something like it at work."

"Is it Kevin? Or something else?"

"No idea, but he's a part of it because for some reason he and Kaley are the only people that come to the packhouse anymore. Even my dad stays away and he's the Luna's main guard. But the logic, from the Alpha, is that if she's in the packhouse she doesn't need protection. So he isn't needed."

"Oh sh*t!" I jumped up. "She's the target! Someone is going to try and get to her. You guys all know about the tunnel now and I'm sure she's shared the code with the Alpha, whether she wanted to or not. Anyone could sneak in and grab her. You have to watch her Oliver, especially if your dad has been worked out of her detail. They want her to control the Alpha. He can't stay under a spell forever."

 

Chapter 0474

"I have Sam and Mateo watching her. They seem to be like me and see both sides of whatever this is. Oh, speaking of which," He takes the backpack he was wearing off and hands me two gallon sized zip top bags with clothes in them.

"What are these?" I'm actually afraid of the answer to this question.

"I know you are having nightmares, so don't lie." He holds up his hand to stop my protest. "I assume Jena is too, so I brought one of Mateo's shirts for her since that seemed to help and I brought you one of Cam and Kota's shirts. And just so we're on the same page I will be taking one of yours and one of Jena's to hide in their rooms. Actually I will need two of yours. Cam and Kota have gone back to being in separate rooms." His look is so pained.

"They don't sleep apart though, they never have." I whisper.

"They did once, remember?" He looks me dead in the eyes. "The last time you left, they slept in separate rooms for almost a year. If I had to guess based on all the crazy ass timelines. It was right after the time you had been captured until you came back to us. They have also taken to dressing alike. Do you remember their social experiment?"

"Yeah." I smile and laugh at the ridiculous memory. "That feels like forever ago. They were trying to prove that it was some kind of great phenomenon that I could tell them apart."

"Well apparently it helps keep the crazies at bay and even their parents can't tell them apart. And they won't confirm who is who. They only speak out loud when they have to. They mindlink everything, and their wolves seem to be a part of all the conversations which change their voices. They don't trust, and for good reason. They have everyone at arm's length. Something deep in them knows something is wrong, I can see it in their faces, but they are stuck and can't fix it alone. Since I have been spending time with you, I have started to see their differences and I think seeing them as individuals without assistance helps them focus, but it's a huge battle. Sam and Mateo aren't much better. Mateo has become more angry, he just radiates hostility, that is keeping people away from him. Sam just talks less and doesn't smile at all. Although Sam might just be sad about Sierra not being here and doesn't give a sh*t about anything."

"What? Where did she go?"

"Don't know. She left a note saying she had something to work on and she had to leave in the middle of the night because of the lockdown. No one has heard from her since and I think he might be losing his mind a little over it. I think he's nervous because she turned 18 and we all know that he thinks they are mates, but she bailed before his birthday. I think he's afraid he lost her."

Oh sh*t, that would probably mess me up too. We all know he loves her and it was just a matter of them waiting until they were 18 to confirm their feelings.

"I'll ask Osiston. I was able to connect with him. I have been sending her texts everyday and they show up read, but she never answers. Same with Mina. Everyone is working on this Rogue King thing so they aren't worried about our trivial problems here."

"What's happening here isn't trivial, trust me. This is big, but still really fractured, nothing makes sense yet."

"Oh, there you are! Everyone is wondering where you snuck off too." Oliver and I both jump at Lenny's words. "Better walk home with me then, you don't want them smelling her on you now. They are already not stable."

"What is going on?! Who isn't stable?"

"Your twins are having a rough time fighting the control. They are, however, doing better than the Alpha. But their possessiveness is at an all time high."

"What control? Lenny, what's going on?"

"I thought you would have figured it out by now. All three of them are being controlled. My guess is they ingested something along with a spell. I bet the boys only got a half dose each, which is why they seem to be mostly conscious, but still addled."

"What? Who would do that?"

"I thought you were smart, girl. Who do you think? It worked for her Daddy to gain the control he doesn't deserve, why wouldn't she use it to gain the Alpha's she doesn't deserve. Now, we need to go and take a very specific route that will help us wear off your scent."

"Speaking of scent, I need those shirts. I want to know if your scent will bring them back to normal. Please.”

"Fine. Give me a minute." At this point I'm willing to try anything.

I take the shirts inside and switch them out for Jena's and mine. I seal the bags so they don't smell me on him. Lenny made it sound like that would be a really bad thing. I walk back outside and hand the shirts to Lenny.

"If they do find them, they won't do anything to Lenny but question her. If they are as deranged as you both are making them sound, they might hurt you tell a confused Oliver.

Loved ne

Then he just nods. “Can you stop by tomorrow? I have my next

assignment from Elena and today was the first time I have been able to do magic since we moved out. I think I need you." I look back at the little fire I made.

"What you need, what we all need is to be together This break in our friendship is going to get us all killed if we don't fix it fast." I nod and move to hug him, but stop. I can't risk putting my scent on him and just shake my head and take a deep breath. "I will be back tomorrow, probably in the evening if can sneak away. I'll see you in passing, on patrols in the morning." He winks and I smile.

He and Lenny walk around the back yard and toward the pack house. It will be a thirty minute walk from here, but I think that's one of the reasons she does it, so our scents can be dulled by the breeze. She also doesn't come in or make contact when she can help it.

I head inside to tell my team what Lenny and Oliver think about the whole situation.

 

Chapter 0475

"Well now that we have some information, I guess their behavior makes a little more sense." Lil shrugs as we dig into dinner. "It doesn't make them any less d*ckish." "The Alpha said he had his reasons, but you were on the right track. What did that mean?" Wyatt asks.

We have had the same debate every night during dinner since we've moved in here. So much of that whole situation doesn't make sense.

"There are just too many things going on right now. We can't figure them all out on our own." Jena says.

"And yet, we have to figure out which ones are more important and some solutions may lead to others." I rub my temples, slowly losing my appetite the more we talk.

"Well you and I can work the magic angle a little more, since Lenny is convinced and all but confirmed the Cunninghams have the Alpha under some kind of control and more than likely the twins now too."

"How do we do that, if we can't get near them? We didn't notice anything before and we were all basically on top of each other in the packhouse."

"That's the thing. I think we were too close to everything and none of us ever thought about anyone using magic here so it wasn't something we were looking for. Typically speaking, wolves don't have or use magic. You are the first shifter I have ever seen that can manipulate magic like a witch. Now that we know we need to look for magic, we can approach it differently."

I nod in agreement. "I will try to get a message to Osiston to get Elena here sooner rather than later, something is wrong with our ability to mindlink warriors outside the pack. I thought she was supposed to be here putting a spell around the pack with her coven, but I haven't heard anything, and it's been like four months. My first thought is magic. I can't imagine the Rogues have stopped their efforts after that small attack was a disaster for them."

"My guess is that attack was a test to see our defenses and how we respond to a basic attack. No idea what they learned, but I do know a few guys got away." Wyatt mumbles over his food. "That isn't good for us, other than we took out quite a few. But, they were probably the weakest rogues and could spare them."

"Well, Oliver said he will come by tomorrow and help too. He's just as natural with magic as I am really. He seems to understand how it works almost like it has its own personality, like it can think and feel and respond to my thoughts and feelings."

"He's probably right. My training was mostly in the physical, herbs and tonics for health and healing. I never did any casting with my aunt."

"So tomorrow. We join in the patrol and training as normal. Let's see if we can get Sam or Mateo to talk to us too. The more allies we have the better if we have to go after our own leaders as well as the Rogue King and his goons on the outside."

"Let's take a look in the book Elena gave you and see if there is a basic protection spell we can find to protect us and maybe the rest of your guys from whatever Kaley and her dad are using. It will be hard because we don't know what we are fighting, but maybe we can give them a small portion of their brains back."

I nod in agreement. I feel so useless right now and all of the information we keep finding is just that, information. There isn't anything that we can use to take action, so maybe this will be a catalyst.

 

Chapter 0476

We finish and clean up. Wyatt and Nathaniel take their post in the living room which has become our makeshift surveillance headquarters. With all of the talk and blatant reveal of cameras all over the packhouse, none of them have been taken down. Just another sign that they are under some kind of control, but whatever it is, whoever holds the reins doesn't seem to have access to their memory or the information they hold. Cause if it was me, that would have been the first thing I took over, knowing that we have cameras all over the school and packhouse and the pack borders.

We now take shifts monitoring the packhouse, the school and the perimeter. There are only five of us and we are exhausted, but this is the requirement of the mission, we can sleep properly later. If we can gain back some of my friends and hopefully their parents, things will get better, so that's my focus now.

Jena, Lil and I pour over the grimoire. It's like a diary, filled with notes about the moon at that moment and the best place to find certain plants at specific times of the year. Then there are notes scribbled into the margins all around the spells and incantations. So many different hands have touched and contributed to this book, I feel special just being allowed to read it. It's not lost on me that my friends can now read it too. When it first came to me, only I could see the words. I'm not sure what's changed, but I love it.

"There!!" Jena shouts as she points to the topmost inner corner of a page. There is tiny purple writing, "To counter an attack start with the most simple solution, cut the cord." She reads out loud. "What in the hell does that mean?" Lil asks.

"We are looking for a spell to use against whatever Kevin and Kaley are doing, but what if we can find something to just block whatever it is? Something simple to cut the cord of control. Instead of wasting Sky's energy constantly casting a spell to protect everyone."

"Huh, I like where this is going. Elaborate for those of us in the room who don't actively practice the witchcraft." Lil points to herself and I smile.

"They aren't casters so they have to be getting, most likely herbs or a tonic, from somewhere. Meaning they have to go get it and they have to continually give it to them, like for us when Mike had us locked up We were fed herbs every single day. The spell isn't as strong as when a caster places it directly themselves, no witch is going to tell people that part if people are willing to pay good money for a spell. Especially if they are going to get paid over and over and over again."

"Okay so how do we 'cut the cord' as you say?"

"We need to find something that they can wear, like a stone or an amulet that can block the effects and protect them from further spells. Like Sky is able to fight most spells and poisons, she is literal living proo of that, we might be able to give the guys the same kind of protection."

My heart lifts. For the first time in a very long time, I have a purpose and a mission where I get to save my friends and not the other way around. So many terrible things have happened and I don't know how we will get past those, but I do know I don't want any of them to die or be harmed. No matter how awful they have been to me. I just can't bring myself to hate them.

 

Chapter 0477

We search for the rest of the night. This time combining the information in the grimoire for protections and a good old fashioned highly encrypted internet search.

We were able to find stones and runes that should help us in our efforts, and I have an idea of how to make them wearable, but the problem was getting them to my guys and then getting them to wear them, constantly. And we also need to get access to the stones we found. We decided to ask Lenny when she came in the morning if she had any ideas. Her and Oliver are our only true allies right now.

Lil went to relieve Wyatt and Nathaniel so they could get some sleep around four and Jena and I went to run our patrol route, we'll sleep after training.

Oliver was pleasant this morning, despite Kota looking like he wanted to murder someone. I also found that I could mindlink Oliver, he just couldn't respond through the link. Apparently the Alpha command was literally they can't talk to me. That has to be Kaley, but she didn't think that through very well, but everything she does borderlines on childish.

My link is stronger than the pack's due to the warrior brand so I can communicate with him from a pretty far distance. And even though it's weird to basically have a conversation with myself, I am able to keep him up to speed with what we find.

I also reached out to Delta Kyle, Sam and my brother, but I haven't seen them to know if they got the message or not. I'm not ready to reach out to the twins or Luna Ava. I don't know if Kaley's hooks are deep enough that they would tell her I have access to their minds or not.

As we head over to the training grounds Lil meets up with us to relieve Jena. Lil and I head to the training grounds and see Sam and Delta Kyle waiting at the gates and my whole heart seizes. It's like deja vu from years ago when Delta Kyle was one of two people who saw me, really saw me and the things I was fighting through.

I could feel the warmth pool behind my eyes as we walked closer to them. They both look around assessing the surroundings, but I don't care. At this point I'm ready to rip out each fingernail and stand of hair individually for what Kaley has done to me and my friends. I walk straight to them and let Sam wrap me up. No words, just emotions are shared. The moment doesn't last long though and we head into training like nothing has changed and they haven't been MIA for weeks.

Delta Kyle lets me lead though with the Elite Warriors, just jumping in to assist where needed. It is strange to think so many things are going on behind the scenes and most of these people have no idea anything out of the ordinary is going on.

I mean they obviously know about the rogues and the most recent attack, but we are werewolves and someone is always attacking someone else for better land, more power, whatever. That was made clear to me at the Alpha summit I went to with Alpha Reggie. But they don't know that their Alpha is being mind controlled by one of their own pack members or that their future Alphas haven't been around because fighting the mind control is basically making them crazy.

They are all getting stronger and more confident in their abilities everyday. An that is a bright spot in all of this. I can at least know that I am still being a positive influence on the pack. We were able to finally move all of the pups out to the Royal Pack for safety. At least Kevin and Kaley didn't get in the way of that. But, maybe after the incident in the tunnel, Kaley realized that even the pups were seen as more important than her and she didn't mind the removal of that distraction.

 

Chapter 0478

As we all start to pack our gear and head out. Sam slips something in my hand as he passes by, not looking at me. Someone must be watching. This is so stupid. I bend down like I am digging through my bag so I can read it.

Bonfire, midnight, just you.

"What the f*ck does that mean? 'Just you' like anyone is going to let you go anywhere alone right now."

"I don't know, but they can't mindlink me to tell me and clearly this was written so it didn't matter if it got lost or found. This could be for anyone."

"Yeah, but you still aren't going alone, that's for damn sure."

"We'll talk about it at the house, we are clear here."

When we get back to the house Lenny is waiting there by the cute little picket fence that lines the sidewalk.

"I have your food and a few little extra goodies. I was able to talk with Jena a little bit and catch up. I miss having you girls in the packhouse. There is so much testosterone overwhelming the Luna and I. You girls softened everyone up a bit."

"Wait, Kaley didn't move herself into Sky's room?" Lil sounds surprised.

"Not everything is going that girl's way. Now, Martha will be by with dinner for you tonight. The Alpha is having guests and I really need to be there to help with that." She winks at us and just walks away.

"I hate all of this talking in code. Is this what it's like to be human and have to share secrets with no mindlink? This blows." Lil huffs as I laugh at her comparison.

I hand her my bag and pick up the obnoxiously large basket. I think if I folded myself right I would be able to fit my whole body in it. We make our way inside.

"Another basket? Lenny already left our food. What is that?!" Jena asks as we head to the kitchen.

"No idea, but it weighs a ton." I set it down on the floor, there is no way I am lifting it onto the table.

I open the top and gasp. It's filled to the brim with books, ingredients, candles. It's like an old world apothecary.

"There's a note on top." Jena points from over my shoulder.

"What's it say?" Lil asks and I don't know why but a sense of dread comes over me.

My Little Apprentice,

It has been too long, but

developments have come our way that I cannot ignore. Please forgive me. I have been made aware of your current situation. Please follow the instructions marked to protect yourself and your team from any

further magics that are cast at you.

I will be in touch soon, do not give up hope, there is light coming for you through this darkness.

Elena

I pull the deep emerald green book out. This one is small like a notebook you would keep in a purse, but filled with spells and notes. I flip to the page marked with a sprig of holly and a fern leaf.

The instructions are simple enough to follow. There are several ingredients that we must bundle together and place outside around the perimeter of our house and then a few things for the doors and de windows. There are also instructions for woven bracelets for my team and I think I know how to break my boys from their prison.

 

Chapter 0479

We spend the rest of our evening setting up all of the pieces for the protection spell. I was hoping that Oliver would be here to help me, but Jena is more than adequate at helping me perform the incantation part of the protection spell. I light the fire in the firepit in the backyard like I do it all the time. I think Oliver was able to unlock whatever block I had with my magic when he stopped by yesterday.

It doesn't take long for me to say the few lines of protection spell and feel the literal change in the breeze around the house. The cool night air warmed just a few degrees, but enough to be noticed. Then Jena and I set about making the woven bracelets.

We tied red strings around the smallest herb leaves I have ever seen. The process was intricate since we had to knot the strings in very specific locations around the herbs.

Then we made it more-so when we made bracelets for the guys by weaving in a piece of the bracelet they gave me for my fifteenth birthday and by adding a small chunk of a green malachite stone and obsidian stone, both with hand carved runes for protection.

It took hours. Even Martha was able to drop dinner by and Wyatt and Nathaniel had been here to eat and then left again to run patrols and we didn't even look up.

It was well after eleven when we finished, but I had to finish, we need to get these on before anything else happens. I give Jena hers and we both repeat the incantation that goes with it. She does the same with mine. Then we find Lil, who all but laughs while she repeats the incantation. Apparently the spell tickles.

We decide that Lil should follow me and Jena should wait for Wyatt and Nathaniel to set them up with their bracelets.

We start walking, taking the route that Lenny suggests to get to the forest behind the packhouse. It's been almost a month since we had our last bonfire here. Time seems to just be flying right now and yet I wish it could go just a little bit faster so we could get to the light that Elena was talking about.

Once I get to the clearing a familiar tattooed hulking form stands waiting.

"Oliver!" I whisper shout and run to him. I don't even care if anyone can smell me on him, I need the contact, need the tight bear hug embrace that only he can give. He just holds me then gives me a kiss on his spot on my temple then lets me go. He gestures with his hand over our heads.

"Do the umbrella." Is all he says and I start but pause.

"Lil, step into the clearing, I'm putting the umbrella up and I don't want you locked out."

"I'm pretty sure the direction was to come alone." He looks at me with a cocked eyebrow.

"If you were Lil, would you have let me walk from our house out into the woods with those cryptic instructions alone?" I returned his look.

"Fair enough. Did you get everything?"

"That big ass basket was from you?" Lil asks, patrolling the edge of the clearing.

"Not all from me, but there seems to be a lot of underground things happening to make sure you can do what you need to do to save this pack from itself."

"Yes, we got everything and I have something for you, and the rest of the guys really. It will just be a matter of invoking the spell that goes with them. But, I think you are close enough with the magic that you could make it happen."

I pull out the bracelet that has a single orange threat woven into the red knots. I place it on his wrist and, holding his hand, say the incantation and he repeats, then I feel a whoosh of air that throws my long hai in every direction. Then a searing pain rips up my arm and he must feel it too as he cries out, but neither of us can let go.

Then underneath the red woven

bracelet, on my skin, I see a chain of black crescent moons circling my wrist. They are just the outline of a crescent and only a few millimeters in height, but there is no mistake that I now have a tattoo around my wrist. Looking at Oliver's band where we are still connected he has the same ring around his wrist.

"What the hell was that Bitty?" He doesn't let go, just looks surprised.

"No Idea. It didn't do that when I did the exact same incantation for Lil and Jena."

"So maybe I can't work this magic with the guys. This," He holds up his arm, "Needs to come from you."

"I know I can get Sam, but what about the rest of them? Kota looked like he wanted to kill me yesterday...this morning...whatever. He was not happy."

"I might know why. I think he might have been mad at me, because I can still talk to you."

"What?!" Both Lil and I say together.

"I told you, and after talking with Lenny, I'm convinced she has some kind of order on not talking to you at all. But if you were able to talk to Sam today and we can obviously talk it might be on only the twins or the twins and your brother, but I don't know why they would include him."

"For majority rule." Lil pipes up from the edge, not looking at us. "Having only the twin under her control still gives Midge majority rule and our resident princess can't have that, so she would pick the person she thinks is the closest to her to cause more damage."

"Well she chose wrong then." I blurt, then slap my hand over my mouth. "I mean, if anyone really watches us, I'm more likely to be seen with Oliver than Mateo." I try to back track like I'm doing my brother a disservice.

"It's okay, we know what you mean,

நாம்

and no one ever said she was smart or observant of it doesn't directly affect what she wants at the moment Her stupidity will be what sets us all free hopefully. But, we have to figure out how to get you enough time to get the bracelet on and do the incantation with the rest of them. Let me think about it and I will have some ideas in the morning."

He pulls me in for another hug and I soak up the embrace.

"Won't they smell Midge on you? That will give this whole thing away won't it?" Lil asks.

"The twins will no matter what I do,

they are coming into all of their fully heightened senses, and frankly I don't give a sh*t. They deserve the torture just a little. As for everyone else... He steps away from me and rips his t-shirt off and throws it at Lil. "That should be enough to hide her scent. Most of it's on the shirt

anyway."

"Damn, you and your tattoos! You make me almost want to test drive a guy just for fun!" Oliver and I both laugh at her outburst. "I'm keeping this, by the way, you know, for research purposes." She waves his shirt as I let the umbrella down.

"Tomorrow, Bitty."