"What are you doing here?" Alexei asked, assessing my matching fighting skins. I tightened the laces of my boots before rising to my full height, which was still shorter than his.

Huh. Annoying.

"I'm coming. You can't stop me from going."

"I wasn't going to." His gaze swept along my uniform again, growing darker. "I was going to comment on how nice you look this eve."

I narrowed my gaze.

I spotted Kian speaking with an Enforcer. He wore misery like a cloak. It was a shock that he was even speaking to anyone. After his duel with Jace and his defeat, he hadn't wanted to speak to anyone. He kept to himself. Watching him speak with another soul that was neither Aella nor I, hurt a little.

Kian was our friend. Didn't friends confide in friends?

Had I given him too much space to overwork his brain?

Alexei followed my gaze to Kian. His is gaze softened a little, sensing my worry. "Come here."

Before he could grab me towards his chest, Jude strolled towards us. "Nice to see you here Pen."

"I wanted to be here if that's alright with you."

Approval overtook his expression, "It's very welcome. Aella wanted to be here too, but she can't, for obvious reasons." His face transformed into one of the softest looks I'd ever seen him wear in front of people, other than Aella.

"You're going to be a good father." Alexei squeezed the Alpha's shoulder.

I wasn't sure who knew about Aella's pregnancy, but I knew his men were recently informed, considering he spent most of his time among them. It would be impossible to miss the subtle changes in the way he conducted himself, especially if his seven men had collaborated with him for so many years. They'd note the change in him immediately.

"It's a lot sooner than we expected. I wanted Aella to have more years to do her own thing and grow into her own but we're more than happy to have the pup."

Judging from his expression, I knew 'happy' wasn't the right word he wanted to use. It seemed less. I could tell the joy that he was feeling was the type of emotion one couldn't simply keep caged for long. It was basically bursting at the seams. Belated? I could never imagine someone like Jude even using the word in his normally low, stoic voice.

"Congratulations Alpha, you'll be a good father."

Jude simply offered us a smile before he approached Emerys.

**

Kian lead us into the tunnels.

The group of men and women who were picked to assist with the retrieval of the nightshade were fascinated by the route we took.

"Who would've thought that there was something like this here." Someone said behind me.

Despite the lack of fresh air and light, I was impressed that we weren't tripping over each other's toes. That would've been messy. I should've known better. These men and women were trained Enforcers. Finding direction in a tunnel most likely was a piece of cake for them.

The moment Kian stopped; I heard his boots touch squeaking metal. He had already taken hold of the ladder. His steps echoed in the space, before the scraping of metal sounded.

A splinter of light appeared, growing wider and wider until a perfect circle of light illuminated in front of us.

Kian pulled himself up before ducking his head back down, "Quick."

One by one, each Enforcer grabbed hold of the rungs of the ladder, hauling themselves up effortlessly.

I was one of the last ones out.

The other Enforcers were busy taking in the remnants of the Blue Cave Pack with surprise.

Not much had changed from the last time Kian and I entered.

It still felt cold and empty.

And eerie.

"This place..." Jude began, "...feels off."

He wasn't wrong. There was a strange air here.

This place literally had converted into a nesting place for the poisoned changelings, whom, no doubt used the tunnels too, to go back and forth from the mountains. Now that we knew for sure that the tunnels connected to the caverns beneath the mountain, it was no surprise to discover why there had been more sightings of the wolves in the mountains. They had a direct link to the mountains through the tunnels and no one seemed to know anything until Kian had pointed the detail out when we had been in the Alpha's cabin, tucked away in the mountains.

"Exercise caution everyone, who knows when the damn poisoned changelings will attack." Jude warned.

Everyone seemed to stiffen at his taciturn words, but it was a warning well heeded.

Kian led the path to the Bennett's old Pack House.

The place gave me chills.

Jude instructed a handful of the Enforcers to do rounds around the exterior of the house and sent another handful to investigate inside.

"Can you smell that?" Alexei asked when we stepped foot into the house.

Jude was the only one who nodded.

Kian led us to the diamond shaped window we stumbled across from our first visit to the Pack House. The garden was still as picturesque as I imagined. Kian pressed his fingertips across the glass, adding pressure. The door easily swung open and with it, the scent of lemons burst across our noses.

"Nightshade." Both Jude and Alexei whispered.

Kian stepped into the garden space first. We followed behind, wary.

I didn't know how nightshade looked but Jude took a few seconds to scope out the garden. When he found the nightshade, he crouched low and fished out a glove from his pocket. He slipped the leather material on and held the green stem between his fingers as he examined it intently.

The plant didn't look all that spectacular.

It looked like any other plant, but its leaves were formed in a way that it resembled the shape of a plump star and sitting in the middle of it was a shiny, black bulb. It looked like a blueberry, only slightly bigger.

"It doesn't look like much." Kian said, voicing my own thoughts.

"Part of its charm, you could say. Deceptive but deadly." Jude dug his hands into the dirt from where it shot out of. He began scooping dirt away from the roots before he pulled the plant out, laying it at his feet. Dirt sprinkled across his boots, but he didn't seem to mind. He was more concerned on plucking the next nightshade. Alexei, Kian, and I began to follow his lead, uprooting the nightshade until our gloves smelt like lemons.

When we managed to gather an armful of it, Kian hauled the weight of it into his arms. "I have it."

"What do we do with the rest of it?" I asked. It didn't sit right with me that a plant this lethal should be left in a place like this, abandoned.

"There's only a few. Maybe we should take it back with us too."

"That will work."

I walked to the edge of the garden bed but before I could touch the dirt, the windows rattled. Kian kept hold of the nightshade as we ran to see what had caused the vibration.

Outside, there were poisoned changelings. They were still coming out from the gaps between the trees when we made it outside.

"Kian, you must take the nightshade with you now. We'll distract you from them." Jude instructed, not once taking his eyes from the approaching wolves. He began to unbuckle the chains from his forearms, going closer to the Enforcers that were stationed in the front. He began to swing the metal, making whoosh sounds that speared through the air. The display seemed to distract some of the wolves.

"I'll pave the way for you." Alexei stood in front of Kian, waiting for the wolves. "When I make an opening, go. Don't look back. We'll hold them off."

Kian gave one single nod.

Jude didn't wait for them to attack first. He lunged first, swinging his chain in the air, and whipping it out, until it curled around the closest changeling. For a split second, the wolf was suspended in the air until Jude pulled the string of metal, smashing the wolf into the ground.

Alexei took the cue to run towards the wolves, shifting mid-air.

Kian followed close behind as Alexei engaged three wolves into his circle.

The other Enforcers jumped in, taking two or three wolves.

Kian dashed through the gaps, gripping the nightshade close to his chest.

There was no one looking after his back since every Enforcer was trying to fend off a wolf or two on their own. I trailed after Kian, managing to fight off a wolf that happened to almost take a nip at Kian's thigh.

The fight behind us faded from sight as we ran together towards the entry point to the tunnels. We weren't far from it but suddenly a changeling darting in front of us, blocking our path. We dug our heels into the forest bed, drinking a lungful of air.

"Fuck off!" Kian spat at the wolf, frustrated.

"I have it." I moved to stand in front of wolf.

"There's more." Kian swallowed, looking behind us.

I cursed but retained my focus on the wolf creeping closer to us.

"When I count to three, you go." I widened my stance, straightening my spine.

"Don't be silly. I'm not going to leave you here to fight all these wolves."

Before I could tell him to run, Kian tucked the pile of nightshade under his arm and ran for the wolf that had grown impatient of waiting. The two clashed but Kian surprised me when he pulled himself onto the wolf, clutching onto its ears.

"Fucking run Pen!" He demanded.

I didn't listen. I was just as stubborn as he was.

I wasn't going to let him fight these damn things by himself.

I ignored his plea to run again and faced the wolves that were coming towards me. I glanced behind me. Kian was still wrestling with the wolf with one arm, but he was fine. He would be able to manage the one wolf. I could distract the others.

I made sure I had all their attention before I spotted an opening in the trees to my right. I took it, hoping they'd follow.

They did.

I ran, listening to the thump of their paws eating up the space between us.

I wasn't going to lie, I was scared shitless, but I had to do this.

Sparing a quick glance over my shoulder, I was more than shocked to find that the number of wolves on my tail had doubled. I whipped my eyes forward, gritting my teeth as I kept running.

I felt like I was on a useless chase with these animals. They were probably enjoying chasing me around.

Heart racing, I kept running.

My lungs ached as I fought to keep going.

A single thought occupied my brain.

I couldn't outrun the changelings. There were too many of them. I was already losing momentum. I couldn't run forever.

I abruptly pulled myself to a stop. The soles of my boots slid across a section of wet mud. I went sailing past a narrow gap in the trees. I caught myself on a low hanging branch, just in time before I could slam into a thick trunk a few inches from my spine.

The changelings took longer to stop. Their paws skidded across the uneven ground until their bodies violently pummelled against the trees. Thick trunks shook from the collision, sending leaves raining down.

While they tried to gain their footing, I forced myself to relax and breathe despite the urge to continue running. "Focus Pen, focus. You got this. I swear to the Moon Goddess that you got this dammit!" I hissed under my breath. I closed my eyes tightly, forcing the light from my sight so I could focus on my other senses.

"Breathe, just fucking breathe." I repeated the mantra.

I sensed the moment the wolves honed in on me.

The feeling of panic that overwhelmed my senses, almost forced me to my knees.

But I held still, seeking my wolf with determination.

I heard the familiar voice ring in my ear with encouragement. "Let loose Pen."

Warmth filled my chest as the sensation of the shift took over.

My paws dug into the ground, catching sight of the twelve changelings that now surrounded me.

I took a cautious step back, feeling the rough surface of the tree trunk against my tail.

The wolves yipped, inching closer.

My wolf bristled under their fervid scrutiny.

Although Alexei was still at the Bennett's old Pack House, dealing with the wolves there, I felt as if he was standing right beside me, sinking his fingers into my coat for strength. I imagined him crouching beside me, pressing his lips along my ear.

The moment the wolves pounced, I heard Alexei's voice loud and clear. "Get them, my wild wolf."

I sprang from my paws, feeling the air brush through my coat. I was suspended in the air for a split second. The moment my paws touched solid earth, I already thrashed my head to the side, sending the weight of two wolves to the ground. I leaped off the fallen wolves, letting my wolf take control.

It felt odd allowing my wolf take over. The only difference, I was in control too. There was a balance at play- a medium.

My wolf was a lot smaller than the others but what she lacked in size, she gained in her determination to execute the changelings.

One wolf, after the other, she tackled.

Sure, we got pummelled to the ground several times, to the point our jaw jarred when one of the bigger changelings swiped its paw across our cheek.

The fight seemed to fuel my wolf until she drew in more determination and fight.

I genuinely didn't even know how I was managing so long under the attacks. I knew I couldn't fight them all off, there were too many of them and only one of me. I had to think fast. From my peripheral, I scanned my surroundings.

What could I do?

Fighting off the wolves kept half of my concentration. One wolf attempted to slide its jaw along my back leg, but I dodged the attack, only feeling its hot breath against my coat.

I needed to at least draw their attention to something else, other than me.

I ducked as two wolves leaped over me, colliding into each other.

I took the opportunity to run through the thick of the trees. I heard the wolves chasing me, but I didn't dare look back. I needed a plan.

They were gaining speed with every minute we ran aimlessly.

I barely dodged the tree in front of me as I lunged from my hind feet, feeling the air brush along my coat. I landed on my paws with ease, sliding along the dirt from the momentum. When I straightened, I quickly scanned my surroundings.

I realised that the steep ditch wasn't too far from where I was standing. I could lure them there and use the ditch as a trap to keep them from coming after me or anyone else. The opening in the earth was far too deep for any animal or human to climb their way out of. The walls of it were moist, so getting a grip would be next to impossible.

I changed routes, going by the path I knew by memory that would lead to the ditch.

I knew the changelings would be close soon. I could hear the rustle of leaves following me. It was the only indication I knew that they were gaining speed.

I pushed more strength into my hind legs.

I was almost there-

I felt the ground rushing to my face.

My surroundings blurred as my hearing rang. My body slammed into the base of the tree.

In my peripheral, I spotted the red eyed changelings dart towards me.

I tried to get grip of the mulch beneath my paws, but my head was still spinning.

I felt a tendril of fear flare in my chest, but the emotion wasn't mine. I was pissed.

I realised the emotion had come from my wolf.

"No, no, get up." I urged my wolf, hoping she could understand my sentiment. "We have these bastards to kill before we can rest."

I felt my wolf struggle, but she was trying.

"Get up." I urged.

Get up. Get up. Get up.

I felt the shift in my wolf. It was like she had infused steel into our bones as she rose. The changelings were significantly closer, but we took one big inhale, before bursting through the trees again on our exhale.

I felt hot air against my tail, but I ran.

The ditch soon became visible.

The edge crept closer and closer.

As soon as I was close enough, I abruptly stopped, feeling the shift along my body as my wolf obeyed my command and ceased control.

I held myself as still as possible as I felt each changeling struggle to gain control, but it was too late. Their paws couldn't gain grip. I heard them land in the ditch, one by one. I heard them struggle to come back up, whining.

When I was sure all the changelings had become trapped, I stared into the pit.

I released a breath.

I only realised a second later the importance of the familiar voice that had been in my head when I had struggled to find faith in myself to pull of the trap with the changelings.

It was my wolf's voice. Stunned, I remained frozen.

Then, another realisation settled, it completely stole my breath.

My wolf's voice was the same one that had begged me to get up when Seamus had found me in the forest to scout me.

It was the same voice that had always told me to 'get up', whenever I found myself in a sticky situation.

My wolf had been communicating with me since the beginning.

I just hadn't listened.