CHAPTER 1

"The Shikari," my mate states with a worried expression, "they have found us, they are here!"

Just before my mate makes his statement, Alpha Benjamin starts yelling that it's started and that 'they' are here. I'm not sure what the hell is going on at the moment but the first thing I do is take off for the pack house to make sure my boys are secured in the safe room.

'I think you should sit this one out baby, stay with the boys.' Declan links me.

'Like hell I will! You are always trying to get me to stay out of the fighting! Just because I don't know what my powers are yet, doesn't mean I can't fight.' I growl back at him.

'Okay, fine, but you stay by my side at all times! That's not negotiable.' He growls back.

'Deal!' I grin only because he isn't near me to see it.

I make it back to the pack house and I can just feel the nervous energy within it as I enter, "Quinn! Where the fuck have you been? I've been looking all over for you!" My best friend glares at me, "Something is happening, and I think we need to get to the safe room!"

I shake my head, "You and the others take the children and get down there. I'm going with the others to figure out what's going on. Declan says that the Shikari are here, and we don't know what kind of opponent they are yet."

"Are you crazy?! They are here for you!" Cici shrieks as she freaks out on me. She tries grabbing my hand, but I stop her and grab hers instead.

"Protect our babies, Cici. Keep them both safe!" I look toward the stairs where Demi is making her way down carrying her son, with two guards, each carrying one of my sons.

I run to them and give them both a kiss on the forehead, telling them that I love them. I turn to the guards, "I want you both to go into the safe room with them, and you are to protect them with your life if it comes down to it."

"Yes, my Queen!"

I roll my eyes at the title, but I don't bother to argue at the moment. Turning back to Cici, I hug her, "I'm going to send Spencer back here to protect the pack house."

"But you need him with you; he's your Beta!" Even though she states this, Cici's voice is filled with relief.

I have my mate by my side, it's only fair that you have yours close to you. Besides, two of my most precious things are inside this house, and I trust your mate to keep them safe." "Thank you, Quinn," she hugs me tightly, "Please be safe out there!"

"Pfft! I've been kidnapped twice now; do you honestly think I will allow anybody to get the jump on me again?"

"I know you won't, but they aren't here to take you, Quinn. They are coming to kill you, so they can kill the rest of us." Even being scared, Cici still chuckles at me.

"Well, there you have it! Nothing can happen to me because I was

sent by the Goddess to protect our kind, but if that means that I must die to do so, then I'll do it happily."

My little friend punches me in the arm, "If you don't come back, then I'm going to do a séance just to bring you back and make your ghost life hell!"

I laugh loudly, "I don't doubt you would!"

'Babe, we've got to go.' Declan links me.

'On my way.'

"I will be back as soon as possible. Please keep everyone safe!" I call over my shoulder as I head for the door.

Declan is just outside talking with Cam and Peter, the new Head Warrior. Spencer is just walking up to them when I call out to him, "Spence, I need you to stay here and guard the pack house." He's about to argue, so I hold up my hand, "I have Declan with me, and I need my best warrior to protect my kids and the Beta and Gamma females."

I emphasize the last two mainly for his reassurance that I am fine with him being close and protecting his own mate. I know it can be hard on males having to depend on other males to protect what is yours, and I know I am easing a lot of tension he has going on right now, which will make him a better fighter in the long run.

"Are you ready?" Declan turns to me and asks.

"As ready as I'm going to be."

"Okay, let's grab a stash of clothes to take with us. I don't want to show up at the border in our wolf form unless there is already

fighting going on."

Have you heard from border patrol? What do they see?" I ask him as I grab a shirt and shorts for the both of us from the cupboard on the porch.

"They have only seen three lurking around. I'm thinking it's the same as the ones that Frankie was talking about. I don't think they are all here, maybe just a recon move on their part, which is a relief, but we won't know until we check it out."

"We should have some scouts check around the area in case there are others hiding." I glance up at him and see him smiling at me, "What?"

"Nothing, just that great minds think alike. It's already done, and I've even sent a link to my pack having them check the area as well in case they are further out than what your scouts check." "Mm, handsome AND smart! How did I get so lucky?" I muse.

He grabs me around the waist, "It is I who got lucky, baby." His lips. crash into mine in a really hot quick kiss that leaves me a bit dazed when he lets go.

"Oh my, you need to kiss me like that more often!" I giggle like a schoolgirl.

"Behave Luna or I will have to turn you over my knee and spank you." He growls playfully and begins to undress.

"Promises, promises." I sigh in a playful way myself, which earns me a slap on the ass.

Both Cam and Peter chuckle as the start walking further away, "Don't leave on my account boys!" I call after them.

"They are leaving so you can undress and shift, Quinn. Goddess, I can't take you anywhere." He muses.

"It's what happens when you send a feisty little Stone to come coerce a grieving young girl out of her cocoon. You did this; you created this monster!" How we can joke around at a time like this, I will never know but it does lighten the mood.

I let Tala take over as we shift, and then watch Duke come forward. Where his fur is pitch black, Tala's is a silvery color, like the moon. We are like night and day standing beside each other, but I think we are the most beautiful pair of mates that I have ever seen.

We arrive a short distance from where the Shikari were last spotted. There are a few other warriors with us who stay in their wolf form as we shift back and get dressed. Good thing I had thought to grab dark colors, so we can blend into the night and the darkness of the forest. Declan takes my hand and pulls me forward, closer to the border. I decide to link Spencer to replace out if they see anything on their end from the security cameras. We are at the south border where a road cuts through, so Declan made sure to line the whole side up with the cameras.

'Sorry, Luna, I'm not seeing anything. Are you sure patrol saw them at the south border, because even going back through the footage, I'm not seeing anything except a stray deer or critter.' My betal reports back and I'm replaceing it really odd.

"Are you sure it was this border that they were spotted? Spence says that there hasn't been any movement aside from animals." I'm wanting to confirm with my mate; I know mistakes can be made in any situation even though we prefer that no one makes one

during a time like this.

One of my warriors comes padding up to me before shifting into his human form, "Luna, I witnessed them myself; saw them with my own eyes. They were there," he points to a huge boulder that sits on the other side of the road, "There were three of them, but they were arguing with one of them. I only heard snippets, but it was almost like the younger one was trying to get them to move from this area for some reason."

'Spence, one of the patrols says he was here, and swears that we are in the right area.' I inform my Beta.

'Okay, give me a moment to figure this out.' He replies.

I relay everything back to my mate, and I see that he is now linking someone in his pack. I could slip into the conversation, but I feel that may be a bit intrusive, so I wait instead. When his conversation is over, he turns back to me, "Has Spence checked the infrared on the footage?"

"Oh! That's a good question, I forgot that the new cameras have that option, and I bet he has too." I take a moment to link him and sure enough, he had forgotten, so he's checking them now. 'BINGO! There was movement in that area about thirty minutes ago. But wait...'

'Why? What's going on?' I ask him.

'Do you see anything from where you are at?'

'No, why?'

'Because...I'm picking up a body a few meters from you; across the

road it looks like.'

'What? I don't see anything!'

'It looks like they may be hiding or something. The form is low to the ground as though they are laying down, maybe lying in wait?'

I pass the information on to Declan, "Why don't you just link into the conversation, so I don't have to keep repeating it all."

"Wait...I can do that?" Oh, I tell you...it's a good thing he's purty.

Once I explain how he can link in, I let my Beta, well, I guess he's our Beta now, explain it all to him. When I try taking a step in that direction, Declan's hand snakes out and grabs hold of my arm as he shakes his head no and brings his finger to his lips, indicating that I should be quiet.

I press my lips together, annoyed with my mate, but I follow his instruction. I watch as he slowly makes his way towards the border, while being very watchful. All of a sudden, he lifts his nose in the air and starts sniffing, but it doesn't last long before he's turning back and coming back to where the rest of us stay standing.

"I need some warriors to come with me," he states, "I don't smell the others but there is a faint smell of something human and something else; I think they are part witch. Don't ask me how I know this because don't know. Last I knew, witches died out centuries ago, but that's not why I need warriors. I smell blood, and lots of it, but they still have a faint heartbeat."

"What are you going to do, kill them?" I ask, thinking that's exactly what he's going to do.

"I'm not sure yet; I will figure that out once I know more."

Declan and the others are back in no time at all, carrying a big male. He looks young, but he's covered in blood, so it's hard to tell,

"That's the one that was trying to lead the others away!"

"Are you sure?" I ask, still looking at the stranger.

"Yes! We looked right at each other, and I was still in wolf form. He knew we were here and yet he still lied."

I sigh, "Okay, well, I guess we had better take him back to Dr. Sands and see if he can patch him up. Then maybe we can get some answers."

I hope you really enjoyed the first chapter of book 2! Please comment your thoughts on it. I made it an extra-long chapter for 2 reasons, one being that it's the first chapter, and two because there will be no chapter update tomorrow. I am taking a day to recharge, and I thank you for your understanding. I hope you all have an amazing day! =)

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