Aida

I'm waking up in yet another different room. But this one is much nicer than the dingy, dusty motel room. The Strand pack house is lovely, modern, sterile-level clean, and very organised. I feel like I'm on a naval ship. Everyone is efficient and task orientated. They all know their roles and expectations, and they execute all of it swiftly and with exquisite precision.

When we came in from the challenge yesterday, we were asked to stay and eat with the pack, and then James insisted we stay the night. I think he wanted us here for support more than anything. Though he has Kane and Jemma here, he seemed to really want Arge and I to stay. A touch of home, I guess. The familiar. And we couldn't say no, not with the state he was in last night.

Today will be a hard day for the pack. George announced at dinner last night that he's leaving. James did not want him to, not in the slightest. But George insisted it was his own free will that was making him leave. For the first time in his entire life, he did not need to worry about anyone else except for himself. He had no mate or children to keep him here. He had never found a mate, which made me feel sorry for him, but it didn't seem to worry anyone else. It had always been this way for him.

It's always been just him and the pack and now that he did not have the responsibility, he's decided to travel the world, meet new wolves, see new places, and just enjoy his freedom.

He seemed at peace with it all. And so did the pack.

I lay still in bed so I don't disturb Argent. He was very uneasy last night. He literally tossed and turned for hours. Something is bothering him.

Perhaps the impending doom headed our way? We had put off my daddy drama to help James and Jemma with the Elroy issue and now that this was resolved, we needed to face the inevitable music.

My father was out there somewhere, probably doing evil deeds, in training to be the next big, bad man and planning his next big, bad event. Amalie was in hiding, and how was she now? Was she any better? Had Dr. Emerson helped her?

We needed to talk to Argos today. Perhaps that is why Argent was so restless. A showdown with his father was overdue. We didn't really get to see him at the challenge and though he was invited to stay, he declined and headed back to his home base.

He did, however, give us a very clear order to return today to discuss our next steps. It was a definite order, not a request.

"I can hear you thinking, Aidalyn," Argent pipes up.

I scoff. "You cannot."

"Can you?"

I smile. "No, but I may as well be able to. You're wiggling and making little sighs here and there, and it makes me wonder what you're going over in your head."

"I'm sorry. I was trying to be still."

"What's up?"

Argent leans up on his elbow and pushes a stray hair away from my face. How does this boy look so perfect first thing in the morning? I'm sure I look like the walking dead most days.

He shrugs. "Just thinking about your dad, my dad, and all the drama to do with the both of them."

"Ahh. Yep. I know."

He sighs too. The unknown part is the worst. What do we do now? What is the first step? "Dad will at least be able to update us on Amalie, the council, and any word on your crazy father."

"Hmm. Crazy runs in the family huh?" I giggle when he shakes his head and flicks me on the nose.

"Let's sleep for another hour and then we can worry about all that, okay?"

"Deal."

***After another two hours of peace, we finally feel ready to face the day ahead. We shower and dress in the borrowed clothes so generously given to us by Jemma's storage stocks, and then we head down to the hall to have some brunch.

Surprisingly, we find James sitting up at the table, slightly rough around the edges but looking remarkably better than last night.

"Big brother Alpha!" I run to hug him, but he flinches when I hold him too tight. "Oh, I'm sorry!"

"That's okay. I feel much better than I look."

"Yes, you do, baby." Jemma gives him a wink and Argent pretends to be sick at the table. Nothing has changed here. The few Strand members around us make eyes at each other, obviously thinking we're a bunch of immature idiots but hey, that's their Alpha now so they need to get used to it.

"So? You two off to see Alph—Argos today?" he says optimistically, but he looks down. I know this will be harder for him than he lets on. Not coming home.

"Yeah. I guess we need to."

"Well, I haven't officially said anything, but you have our assistance, whatever you need." He smiles. His first official Alpha decree.

Argent sighs in relief. "Thanks, man."

I turn to Jemma. "So, Jem, how's your dad?" I ask her, leaning across the table to grab a croissant and some donuts.

She shrugs. "He's okay. He's upset that George wants to leave, but he gets it. I think he'll love having us here. Maybe not having me as his Luna though!" James shoots her a quick, dark look, and she laughs and raises her brows up and down. "How awesome that I get to order my dad around!"

James retorts, "I don't think you're supposed to say things like that, Jemma."

"What? Of course I can! I'm in charge! Next to you, of course, babe." She gives James a wink, and he shakes his head and drops it on the table.

"Good luck with that one, mate!" Arge laughs out loud, and the remaining Strand members get up and leave, their distaste for our jokes plain as day. They have a lot to learn. Maybe the first lesson should be tolerance. Or removing the sticks from their asses.

Arge leans over to say in my ear, "Babe, we should probably get going. Dad wanted us there like an hour ago."

"Okay," I reply, defeated. I stack the plates up to take them to the kitchen, but Jemma grabs them and takes them for me. "Goodbye, Alpha James. I'm going to miss you so damn much." I hug my big brother. I miss him already. I'm so happy for him, but this part sucks.

"Don't say that like we won't see each other. Of course we will. You're welcome here whenever you like. Besides, someone needs to pack my stuff up for me!" He takes hold of me and lifts me off the ground. "Argent, if you don't take good care of her, I'll kick your scrawny ass too."

"I know, I know. Empty threats again, eh? Come on! Give me a little credit will you!"

James finally puts me back down as Jemma comes back into the dining room. "Take care, you two, and call us when you know what the next step is." They sit together and watch us as we leave. Jemma is lending us her father's car, though I'm not sure if he knows or not. She said they can pick it up later.

Argent and I head outside and hop into the waiting car. We head back to the dusty motel and swap Kane's car for the bike. We then collect our belongings and do a quick sweep of the room before we pack the bags in the back of the bike, don the helmets again, and head for home.

The trip is more ominous as we get closer to home. Neither of us are sure what to expect. Will the guards be there waiting? Am I going to have to do their stupid tests? And then there is my good old nutjob father.

I tuck my face into Argents back and close my eyes. I really do not want to face any of this. I feel like we never get to live a carefree life; the life that we both desperately want to live. We always have some kind of shit to face together, and it's been this way literally since the day we met.

Finally, we see the highway start to peel off, and we take the exit. Soon, the house comes into view. I forgot how gorgeous it was. There's a huge sweeping porch, vibrant gardens, and a creek that runs behind the whole length of the house.

If we didn't have a million doomed tasks ahead of us, it would be nice to just take all of this in for a change.

Argent turns the bike up the drive, and we see Argos waiting out front as we pull up to a stop at the front steps.

Argos sighs. "I'm glad you're finally able to grace me with your presence, you two. I see Argent's poor punctuality is rubbing off on you, Aida."

Great. We're already in the bad books.

Argent replies sheepishly, "Sorry, Dad. We needed to see James this morning and make sure he was okay."

"How is he?"

We head up the stairs and Argent continues, "He's fine. Jemma is taking to the whole Luna thing very well." He winks and Argos just shakes his head.

"Ah, I'm sure she is." Argos gives a light chuckle. We all know her well! James will not be as in charge as he thinks.

We continue to follow Argos, trudging along behind him like naughty school kids going to see the principal. As we enter his office, he waits for us to go through the threshold and closes the door behind us. He gestures for us to sit down in front of the desk, and we each take a seat.

"Right. Let's begin. First of all—"

Argent interrupts, "Father, Alpha, I'm sorry we left without your permission. It was not the right thing to do, and I should have spoken to you, but I felt like I had no choice. I accept whatever punishment you have decided upon for me. Aida has no fault in it."

"Ah, no. That's not completely true. I went along with it. He did it for me. So please, whatever it is, punish us both. Or just me."

Argos looks from me to Argent and back.

"Are you both quite finished?"

We nod in sync.

"What I was going to say was, I understand why you both left. I've had time to think it over, and I completely understand why Argent chose to do this. I was actually going to suggest the same thing myself, he just beat me to it. The council was huffy for a day, but they had more pressing matters when the challenge popped up as somewhat of a distraction."

Argent and I look at each other. I see him breathe a sigh of relief.

Argos continues, "Now, about Jasper. Our scouts never got far, did they? We need to continue to search for him immediately. There has been no change with Amalia. She remains the same. Hungry for blood, increasingly aggressive and less of herself. When she left, I could barely sense her wolf anymore. Emerson has done all she can at this point. We need that man back here to fix her."

I feel Argent stiffen at my side. "How do we even start to find him?" he asks, looking down at his hands that are gripped tight on the chair.

There is a sudden loud bang on the door, making all three of us jump.

"Forgive me, Alpha, but you need to come downstairs, now."

Argos stares at the young man. Argent and I look from his face to Argos.

"Can it wait, Alex?"

"No, sir. It can't. Please."

"Very well," he huffs, standing up, and Argent and I quickly hurry after him out of the office.

We head down the stairs again, all three of us following Alex at a rapid pace. Seriously, everyone walks so fast here. As we get down to the main entrance, Argos freezes in place, and we almost bump into him.

Two of the pack guards stand in the doorway holding a ragged and severely dishevelled man.

"What the hell?"

We can't see the man's face, as he has his head hanging in his chest.

"Who is this?" Argos yells to the guards, and they start to shake the man, causing him to lift his head.

A gasp leaves my mouth.

I move forward as if in a trance, soon reaching the three men at the entrance. The dirty captive tentatively gazes at me, then blinks a little. His eyes widen, and I see his breath catch.

He has balls coming here, I'll give him that.

I lift my hand and before I know what I'm doing, I slap him hard across the face. The solid sound of the skin-on-skin connection makes everyone in the foyer jump.

"I guess I deserved that, daughter."

That and more.