"Someone is trying to bring Anabelle back to life."

Athena broke the chilling silence with her words, and my eyes finally drew away from the crackling fireplace.

Athena sat on the carpeted floor in her living room, cross-legged and back pressing against a large cushion that rested between her and the sofa.

An hour had passed since I'd seen the empty grave, and by the time I'd returned to the pack, my baffled mind was racing, fingers numb and cold until Athena forced me into her house and had me sit near her fireplace in the living room.

From there, she'd made us both tea, which I couldn't bring myself to drink. We'd sat for a long while, saying nothing. But now, Athena had spoken, and my attention averted to her.

Athena's smile was anything but friendly when I met her gaze, bewildered at her statement.

"When I was a little girl," Athena crooned, eyes becoming distant as she pulled on her memories, "There were some humans who knew how to create potions and these potions were rumoured to bring the dead back to life. My father had heard of these people, and sought after them, hoping that he'd convince them to make a potion to bring my then recently deceased mother back to life. It was believed by some that the potion created would need to be forced down the throat of the dead, and in a few hours, the individual would live once more."

My lips twitched, thinking that Athena was joking. But when no smile or jesting came from her, I demanded sharply, "What?"

"Mhm-hm."

I swallowed hard as I eyed Athena in shock. Humans being able to make potions was something in which I'd never heard of prior to today. "Did the potion ever work?"

"They never got the chance to try to see if it would work. They were murdered by some lycans whilst travelling here."

I grimaced. Athena simply drank her tea, her voice soft when she eventually said, "Eventually I too learnt how to create some potions."

My lips parted in disbelief and my chest suddenly felt tight. "I beg your pardon?"

Athena nodded. "All of the Elders have the knowledge to create a variety of potions. The few humans who knew how to create them taught me shortly after I became an Elder." Her eyes lowered to the dark liquid in her cup and when they raised back to my own, deep mischief swam in her gaze. "I could perhaps show you how I make them one day."

I stared, mouth agape at the woman who steadily watched me. "Do the potions you make involve magic then?" I finally breathed, icy coldness creeping up my fingertips and then moving all the way to my wrist.

A horrid taste rested in my mouth as I realized that Anabelle could possibly, if the potions worked, be brought back to life. My immediate thoughts went to the Elders and I wondered which one could possibly make a potion to ensure Anabelle lived once more.

Bronwyn, maybe?

"Well," Athena purred, fingers wrapping around the handle of her teacup as she lifted it to inhale the scent of tea, "The ones that the elders and I make, could lead people to think that there is something magical about them, because the potions usually work excellently once specific ingredients are combined and manipulated correctly."

"Who taught humans to create potions?"

"Witches, the ones who could cast spells or had supernatural powers once lived, and before most of them died, they were the ones who taught several humans to create potions."

Oh my god.

A slight panging was beginning to form in my head, and I was grappling to stay calm with these revelations.

"Anyone can make some potions," Athena carried on. "But few decide to, because most persons are unaware that they can create a variety of potions. And even then, several important and strategic steps must be taken to make sure that the potions are made correctly and actually work. Most of the ingredients in the potions can be found here on earth."

I heard the front door of her home open and close, and then heavy footsteps, but I still didn't look away from Athena as I asked, "You said someone is trying to bring Anabelle back to life. Wouldn't they succeed if they know the necessary potion?"

Athena scoffed. "No. The potions that the humans and the Elders were taught can not bring persons back to life, so my father's efforts had been useless. The Elders know that potions won't make the dead live once more, but other humans certainly try to revive the dead nonetheless."

Athena smiled a humourless smile. "An individual has more than likely attempted to bring Anabelle back to life, and I suspect it's someone in this pack, but certainly not an elder. And that means Bronwyn would not have done it either." She sent me a pointed look, and it was clear that she knew I'd suspected her.

"Olivia."

I turned and watched the Alpha standing in the doorway. His eyes travelled between us as he stepped into the living room, and then finally settled on me.

"Are you fine?" He asked me, voice gruff. I glanced at Athena, who stood, fingers smoothing down the few wrinkles of her dress.

"Yes," I too stood, and studied Hannes. He was wearing his light blue uniform, and the symbol on his shirt seemed to stand out brightly against the material.

"I told her about the Elders knowing how to make potions." Athena told her son.

"Do you know how to make them?" I asked Hannes. He shook his head after giving his mother a long look; they'd evidently communicated through mind-linking, and my eyes narrowed.

"None of the pack members are aware of the Elders being able to create potions," Hannes said, taking my hand and leading me to Athena's front door, with her walking close behind us.

"The knowledge of potions are usually only known in packs amongst the Alpha, Beta, Luna and the Elders. But few humans outside of packs know about potions as well."

Hannes opened the door with one hand, the other still holding onto me tightly, fingers interlaced and I paused before leaving the house to meet Athena's piercing eyes.

"Are you certain those potions can't bring her back to life?" My voice cracked, and I swallowed thickly as the ache in my chest spread. Panic, worry and anger had taken ahold of my emotions and I needed Athena's confirmation.

Hannes' drew me closer to him, until my back touched his chest and his grip became gentler.

Athena's honey-colored eyes softened and she nodded.

"I am certain, Olivia." She whispered, lifting a hand to place her palm against my cheek. The bands of her rings were cold against my skin as she said, "Anabelle is dead. I promise you."

*************

Hannes was being loud. His voice carried despite him being outside and the frustration heard was unmistakable as he snarled at the two warriors who had been assigned tasks near the areas in which Anabelle's grave had been.

I watched from my bedroom window as he berated them, demanding answers as to where they'd been when the coffin had been removed, and why on earth they'd left where they'd been stationed.

His anger did not stem solely from them being unaware of who had removed the coffin however; it was also because the two lycan warriors had been placed to watch that area in the possibility that the Alberrechain people attack this pack, and the warriors were supposed to have been searching for any possible signs of intrusions or anything out of the norm.

Hannes had said the Alberrechians hadn't sent their entire army to the Beckland pack yesterday, and since they'd recently attacked it, there was also a chance that the army which Hannes had spoken of could return but attack this one instead.

"....neglected your duties for you both to go and fuck!" Hannes' roar seemed to burn my ears and I winced. The female's face was completely flushed red, and the male's eyes could not meet his Alpha's. Humiliation was on both of their expressions as the rough reprimand continued.

Persons were stepping outside of their homes, taking a few glances of what happened before promptly returning back into their houses. I watched this for a short while, a bit surprised by the lack of curiosity seen.

The pack members who walked by looked for several seconds but did not linger.

I eventually moved away from the window and walked downstairs. The faint scent of food tickled my nostrils and I could see Stewart behind a partially opened door, his body bustling back and forth.

When he suddenly turned, and saw me standing outside of the kitchen, a large smile broke across his face.

"Good day, Luna!" He called. I fought to keep my expression neutral at the term 'Luna', feeling a pinch of uncomfortableness as he said it.

"Hello Stewart." I called back, moving closer so that I stood inside the kitchen. His smile widened, and he raised a finger as he hurriedly walked to a pot. Warmth radiated from the man, and my eyes trailed over his graying hair and beard.

Splotches of green and brown were on an apron tied around his waist, and when he passed by, the pleasant scent of herbs surrounded me.

"I have something I'd like you to try if possible," Stewart said, taking up a spoon and walking to a pot. "It's soup that I prepared for Hannes and yourself."

He gestured me over with an enthusiastic grin, and I felt a smile pulling on my lips as I walked to his side. He dipped the spoon into the pot and then held it out to me, urging me to take a sip of it.

I lifted the spoon, eyeing the liquid in it as my mind travelled back to the potions which Athena had spoken of.

However, it was beyond obvious that this was indeed soup, and it was confirmed after I drank some. It was delicious, and I told this to the beaming Stewart.

"Thank you." Stewart mumbled. He took the spoon from me and dropped it into the sink. "I'm glad you like it." He wiped his hands against a kitchen rag. "Your lady friend found out I was a cook and asked that I help her make some food."

"Helda?"

He nodded. "Yes. She was suggested to visit me because everyone knows I am a good cook and she needs the help with making some food that she struggles with apparently."

"I see." I peered into the bubbling pot once again. "Do you need any help with anything?"

Stewart shook his head. "No, no. You go and relax. I will find you when the food is ready."

I smiled at his beaming. "Thank you."

When I left, I travelled to the living room and almost immediately caught sight of several bookshelves.

My eyes travelled over the titles as I decided I'd read one, and I eventually chose a book with a promising title.

I was seated on a sofa in the living room, beginning to become enraptured by the story when the front door opened and then slammed.

I watched as the items on a desk trembled because of it, and then straightened on the sofa as I saw Hannes walk past the living room door, seemingly oblivious to me being nearby.

The front door clicked open again. "I was behind you, Hannes." Elijah growled soon enough, voice coated with annoyance. Hannes' low snarl of warning seemed to shake the walls and Elijah snapped,

"Look, I'm as angry as you are. I was looking through my office and realized that someone stole my mints and I th-"

"Not now, Elijah." Hannes' voice was low, dangerous, and silence followed it. My fingers tightened around my book and I decided to stay put as talks of replacing the two warriors soon ensued.

Whilst they spoke, I once again returned back to the book, intrigued by the events unfolding in it.

And when I did eventually look up once more, it was because Stewart had found me, and was asking if I was ready to eat. I immediately confirmed that I was, and as I left, saw that Hannes and Elijah were nowhere in sight, but their voices could still be heard.

A wave of unease travelled over me at the wrath in Hannes' voice, and I couldn't help but think that the warriors unfulfilling their duties, or the disappearance of Anabelle's coffin had not been the only things that had angered him.