Alexandra trailed after the surprisingly quick and agile mountain. She was a fast wolf, and an even quicker human, but somehow, he kept disappearing from her view to only reappear moments later. The man of darkness blended into the shadows the living trees cast down on them, his muscular body morphing into the darkness itself.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Desmond and his little Oracle. Desmond's handsome face was emotionless, as if carved from stone, but his eyes were glowing with his wolf. Alexandra was sure that her eyes were glowing just as much, if not more.

Razbin was nothing more than a shadow in front of them; his long legs propelling him forward. Alexandra had expected the Djinn to be nothing more than a sack of wrinkles, but she had been wrong. So very wrong. Instead of a bald head, he had a head full of thick, dark hair. His dark skin was flawless and smooth, as if carved from stone. Alexandra narrowed her eyes at the stalking mountain. Not many supernatural beings grew taller or larger than a Lupis male, but Razbin was the exception. He towered over her and the Oracle and was at least a head taller than Desmond.

A squeak pulled Alexandra's eyes away from the Djinn, and towards the mated pair. A small smile pulled at her lips as her eyes traced over Sasha.

The Oracle was cradled against Desmond's chest, his thick arms wrapping under her knees and back. Alexandra often forgot about Sasha's humanity. The Oracle was blessed with magic and was a supernatural being, but she was mainly human. The Oracle couldn't move as fast, hear or see as well as the wolves, but she made up for it with her stubborn and fierce personality. Alexandra was actually thankful that the Oracle wasn't a she-wolf; is she had been born a wolf, Sasha would've been the most irritating, sarcastic Lupis that had ever existed. Alexandra and Sasha would've clashed heads almost as much as Dillon and the pack's fourth, Kara, do.

"If you don't mind, I would like very much to arrive back to my home before dawn," Razbin said, his voice taking on a tone that had Alexandra's lip lifting in a silent snarl.

Who does he think he is? Alexandra thought. Talking down to me as if I am some damn pup.

Her wolf snarled inside her mind, promising a battle should Alexandra release her control. Everything about the Djinn rubbed her wolf the wrong way, and the wolf was more than ready to sink claws and teeth into the Djinn's too perfect flesh.

"Your wolf does not like me very much," he purred. Alexandra didn't trust herself to speak, knowing that if she did, nothing but growls and snarls would come out.

"Wolf got your tongue?" He taunted. Alexandra was certain that her eyes were glowing as brightly as the blood that would be soon flowing from his neck.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Desmond set the Oracle back down on her feet, but before the Djinn could say anything more, Sasha snarled.

"We came here to get answers, not to listen to your bull." The Oracle barked, her eyes glistening dangerously. "And if you say anything more to the Luna, I will shove my boot so far up your ass, that you'll taste my shoelaces."

"Is that supposed to intimidate me, Oracle?" Razbin drawled lazily. "First of all, we all know that you can't reach my, as you put it, ass. Second, that's not even possible. And third, you are wearing boots- there are no shoelaces on them."

"Okay, smartass." Sasha snarled. "Would you understand me better if I talk a little slower? Or would it be better if I bi-"

"Sasha!" Desmond snapped, no doubt cutting off her colorful threat. Desmond wrapped a muscular arm wrapped around his mate's waist and tugged her to his chest. The large Lupis male snarled at the Djinn, his upper lip revealing wickedly sharp canines.

"We came here to get help for my daughter," Alexandra said, turning her attention to the bored Djinn. "We didn't come here to get taunted or made a fool of. To my knowledge, you are the only being that knows everything about curses and the like, so that means that you are going to help us. Help my daughter."

Razbin opened his mouth as if to protest, but Alexandra cut him off.

"If you choose to not help, and my daughter leaves this earth, you will be the first to suffer my wrath. You may be powerful, but you are no match for the power of wolves."

Stepping towards the dark figure, Alexandra raised head to look up into the ancient male's eyes. "If my daughter should leave me, you will know the moment hundreds of wolves cross into your realm, but you will not be expecting me. You will tremble with fear from the howls and snarls of the wolves surrounding your tower, but when you see me, you will beg for death."

Stepping up to the frozen male, Alexandra jabbed a pointed finger into his broad chest. "If Adeline dies, I will have no mercy when I rip you to shreds. I will gut you with my claws, and watch as your guts fall onto the floor."

Eyes ablaze with emotions stared down at her, but she wasn't done. A black claw lengthening from her fingernail, and she grinned as the tip pressed into his chest, piercing through the fabric, and finally, the first layer of flesh.

The metallic scent of blood met her nostrils, and she grinned darkly.

"If the Moon takes her, I will have one hell of a time hearing you scream."

????

Nothing had changed in Razbin's tower since the last time she was there. It was still as surprisingly modern and elegant as she remembered. The same old white walls surrounded her, and the scent of cleaning chemicals tickled her nose. The tower was flawless and every germaphobe's dream. Sasha wouldn't be surprised if he wiped off every surface once or twice a day.

Out of the corner of her eye, Desmond sneezed, no doubt from the smell, or lack of. Sasha couldn't imagine how it smelled to the wolves, it was bad for her. She hated the smell of lemon, it brought back too many memories.

"Sit, sit," Razbin said, motioning to a leather sofa sitting in front of a large flat-screen television. Sasha always wondered how he could have so many electronics and modern day items, but then again, he was extremely powerful and probably had some followers out in the other realms. They probably followed every command he gave them, regardless of safety or personal beliefs. It sent a chill down her spine thinking about his minions. They could be anywhere. They could be anyone.

Desmond was practically plastered to her, his pine scent enveloping her in a cocoon of safety and warmth. She knew that he would protect her, and if it came down to it, die for her. He already proved his devotion and loyalty to her, on multiple occasions. Lord, she loved this man.

"I love you too," Desmond whispered through their bond. His hand traveled up along her back and around her arm, pulling her tighter to his body.

Sitting down on the sofa, Sasha stared at the large Djinn as Desmond settled down next to her, Alexandra sitting down on the other side of him.

Razbin paced around the large room, past the computers, book-shelves, and ancient paintings. His back was ramrod straight and his broad shoulders were pulled back in confidence. After making another lap around the room, Razbin turned to face them. His eyes glowing fiercely.

"Tell me," He said, his deep voice raspy. "When you looked into the girl's mind, what did you see."

The tower was silent as the Oracle stared at the Djinn.

"There was a blockage. It was like a flame of darkness surrounding her mind from her consciousness, her wolf from its soul. No matter how hard I pushed, the blockage would not weaken." Sasha breathed.

The Djinn's body stiffened. Sasha stared at his unbelievably handsome face: his facial features that could've been carved from stone, his elongated canines, his ears that were delicately pointed, his amber eyes. It was shocking that such a handsome male that has been alive for many, many centuries, had never found anyone. Sasha wondered if he ever would. After living so long, Sasha was certain that life had lost its value and meaning to him. Maybe if he found someone to love him, and to love in return, maybe he would cherish life again.

"Does she struggle with conscious thought? Is she in a vegetable state?"

This time, Alexandra answered. "No. She is most definitely still capable of thought and reasoning, but when she loses control-"

"Loses control?"

Alexandra lifted her head, staring the ancient male straight in the eye. Her wolf rose in her eyes, snarling its anger and frustration.

"When she loses control, it's like she isn't there. Her wolf completely takes over and tries to kill anything or anyone in sight. She... she almost killed her friend." Alexandra gritted out through clenched teeth. "She was fifteen when she first lost control. I thought I would have to kill her."

For the first time since meeting Razbin, Sasha was shocked to see something so human-like cross across his face.

Sadness.

Sadness and something else. Something Sasha thought the Djinn was incapable of feeling.

Fear.

"I think I know what affects her," Razbin muttered, his voice harsh.