WHERE ARE YOU, BELL?

All the way home, my mind turned... For some reason, the white van had reappeared. The rogues and Beta Lorent too. I couldn't say for sure, the rogues looked familiar. Beta Lorent called them out of the van. The old woman called him a fake beta. He shot the old woman and sacrificed his warriors to escape into the warlock land, which in itself was suicide. Wouldn't his chances of survival be higher if he had just identified himself and came back peacefully with us?

Did he not want to be identified so badly?

Something didn't add up.

Something wasn't right.

And mate wolf's reaction to the shooting... I couldn't quite place it, but it was definitely a stronger than I expected. It was hard to decipher because he remained so stoic about it though.

I needed a shower. Grrr... Finding my way back behind the treeline, I found my clothes where I left them. Killion and Rebel had disappeared and then I heard their footsteps on the side porch of the packhouse.

I shifted and changed. My clothes were wet from the snow. When I returned to the both of them, they were laughing on the porch, "Are you serious?" Killion asked, "He thought we were ghosts?"

"He pretty much shouted it over the mindlink that our ghosts had appeared." Rebel told him.

"Oh goddess! I wished I was still on the pack link just to hear that!" Killion said.

Suddenly Rebel turned serious, "If he hadn't all but admitted that we should be dead or shot her... I would never had believed my own uncle would betray us."

"He killed the Oracle right in front of us." Killion reminded him. He shook his head, "I'd like to see how the Lorent Pack would continue without her."

"How does the Night Leaf make decisions?" Rebel asked, "Isn't there an oracle or something here too?"

"No oracle that I know of. A lot of Alpha's intuition and a great deal of luck." Killion answered.

Rebel growled lowly to himself. It was the sound of him thinking, "That sounds risky."

"Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Killion shrugged.

"I need to get back home." Rebel said finally, "In the meantime, take care of my princess for me."

Killion scoffed, "I don't take orders from you. My alpha is here now."

"You're a Lorent." Rebel growled.

"Not anymore, Luna." Killion said, "If not for goddess picking me off the road that night, I promise you, I wouldn't be alive today."

Rebel growled. He obviously didn't like the idea of it, "Our oracle is dead, and our beta is now the neighboring pack's dog..."

"Don't forget that the future alpha is nothing more than a fight dog too." Killion added helpfully.

Rebel laughed a short and bitter sound, "What has become of the proud Lorent pack?"

I stepped out of the shadows instinctively to reach out to him, but I realized that I only gave myself away.

The two men looked up at me. I crossed over and passed them nonchalantly, "I'm going to take a shower. Get Harvey's truck ready. We're heading over to the base dungeon."

"You wish is my command, goddess." Killion agreed sanguinely as he eased himself off the railing he had been leaning on.

Rebel's expression softened for a moment, just very momentarily before he set it back into its usual proud angles as he followed us into the packhouse.

Inside, it was busier than usual. I recognized warriors, admin staff, some medical staff. The pack house was busy tonight.

We ascended the stairs to the third floor and took the lift up to the penthouse. To be honest, I had nearly headed back to the burnt down old home next door for my shower. But I had been distracted by Killion and Bell's conversation, and accidentally walked the right way.

Mum and Savy were home. I was somewhat relieved to see them. Especially Savy.

Mum hugged me the moment she saw me, "You're home!" Then she frowned, "Your Dad had left to meet you."

"Yeah, I just need a shower first." I said.

"Did something bad happen?" Mum asked.

"No, I just need to think." I said. No one stopped me.

I just needed a moment.

So... what did I know?

The old lady Beta Lorent killed was the Oracle. And she told futures that the Lorent Pack made decisions based on. The Lorent warrior called her... I forgot the name.

Killion's family was the rightful Beta bloodline of the pack, but he runs with me now.

My mate is the rightful future Alpha of the Lorent pack.

Beta Lorent, aka mate's uncle, aka Alpha James' brother was the bad guy.

Well, I knew he was the bad guy the moment I met him. The nose never lies. It's like chocolate ice-cream and cow dung. But I didn't know how bad he was.

I think he must be the first really bad person I've ever met.

The old lady oracle had said some prophecy thing about Green Packland. But I can't remember the rest of it. Geesh! This is so frustrating! I wished I had a better brain for these things! And that there was a drawing? I want to see this drawing. Were we really talking about a literal drawing here? Like a piece of paper with a picture here?

Beta Lorent ran into the warlocks land. He had an injured leg. He should be dead by now.

He thought Killion and Rebel were ghosts. Hahaha, that was quite funny. But why did he think Rebel was dead? Rebel was travelling on his tour. I gave Alpha James the tour schedule...

And then it hit me... I turned off the shower and rushed out of the bathroom. "Bell! Where are you?"

Footsteps charging my bedroom door. I only have a towel wrapped around me. I charged at the door and slammed it shut the moment a hand tried to turn the knob.

What? Did you think I would be dumb enough to let unmated wolves charge in to see me in nothing more than a towel? Don't underestimate me!

"Princess? Are you alright?" Bell sounded worried.

"Yes, but you're not. Wait, let me get dressed. Killion, tell Harvey to come here." I dug around and grabbed the last of the gym gear from the dresser. Okay, I need to unpack all the other paper bags, my drawers are now officially empty. I pulled on the t-shirt with the low battery sign. Jacket.... I pulled it out of the wardrobe, the leather one and zipped it on.

Then I pulled open the bedroom door. Killion and Rebel and Mum and Savy were standing outside it.

"Where are you, Bell?" I asked.

"What?" Bell asked. Obviously standing in front of me.

"I mean, you're traveling? Where are you?" I was frantic.

"Calm down..." Bell tried to soothe me.

{Beta is near}

Good, Harvey was on his way.

"We have to go save you." I told Bell. "I think your uncle had sent people to kill you tonight while you were enroute."

Killion realized it now, "That's why he thought you were a ghost! He knew I was dead, but you were supposed to die tonight!"

"Oh my goddess." Mum looked pale.

"I have to wake up." Rebel said.

"No, just tell us where you are. We can help you." I had never felt so desperate in my life.

"Stay here." Bell lifted a lock of hair and kissed it.

"No!" I grabbed him by his arm, and then there was only air. He was gone.

"That idiotic dumbbell!" I pretty much exploded. My hair flew up at the impact of the force of my rage. Killion shielded Savy and mum behind him from my alpha trantrum.

"I'm going to kill him!" Yeah, no words could express how mad I was at the moment.

"Harvey is asking if you are alright." Killion informed me.

"Your Dad wants you to calm down, Sam." Mum added.

I guess they were sensing my rage from wherever they are. Hell, the entire pack probably felt the blast. Calm down? My mate was about to be waylaid on the street and killed.

"I'm going to kill him!" I growled.

"Do you wanna take another shower?" Savy asked, she grinned at me. Her fearlessness was infuriating. Arughhhhh!!!!

And then I realized how ridiculous and futile getting angry about the whole thing was. I blinked. Hahaha.

Okay. I've calmed down.

"Killion, find out where Bell's next cage would be." I said.

"Yes, goddess." Killion disappeared into his room, I heard the soft whir of a laptop turning on.

I shook my head, my hair settled a little. And I patted Savy on her head, "My poor mate is an idiot!" I told her.

"There, there." Savy rubbed my back, "He's a very strong idiot. I'm sure he wouldn't die so easily."

"He better not. Or I'll go over and kill him myself." I growled, but I was feeling better. Rebel couldn't die that easily, right?

Right.

"Why don't you have a drink and some food first?" Mum suggested.

What would I ever do without Mum and Savy around?

I let her lead me to the dining room table. Our apartment was much smaller than the house, so it was only a few steps away. Now that Mum mentioned it, I was starved. Probably from all the running tonight.

Mum put some toasted ham and cheese sandwiches and green grapes. I realized how much I had missed mum's cooking. Yeah, it's not "heaven" like Killion's fancy food, but it was comforting for me. I bit into the crusty bread.

{Beta is near}

Harvey was close. I wondered if I should get anyone else to come along? Just Killion, Harvey and me should be enough right?

I mindlinked Flynn and Hank, "Hi, are you guys free? I might be going out tonight. Wanna come?"

"Where are you going, Sam?" Flynn asked.

"Out of packlands. Might need weapons...and masks, probably." I told them.

"Understood." Hank said. What he understood, I wasn't sure.

"I dare not say no to this kind of invitation." Flynn joked.

"Meet me at the packhouse then." I said.

Okay, that made five of us.

"Slow down, Sam." Mum scolded, "Don't wolf down everything."

I grinned at her, "Mum, I am a wolf."

Savvy nibbled on grapes, mirroring my grin, "So what are you going to do now?"

"I'm just going out with Killion, Harvey, Flynn, and Hank." I said, "Don't wait up."

"Sam!" Mum sounded a little upset. Did she think I would stay at home while my mate was being attacked someone out there?

He would be chained, and caged, and with Wolfbane in his system for the journey. How would he defend himself from an attack?

If anyone was going to kick his stubborn furry butt it was gonna be me.