Chapter 39

WARNING### Dark memories, situations, and language. ###WARNING

Lily was in new territory for herself; she had been going through some very intense therapy sessions. The more she remembered and had things pointed out to her, like how Michael groomed her from an early age, the more she understood. That way, as she got older, things that should have never happened to a 5-year-old were made to seem normal—the ultimate manipulation. She had been really tired lately and was glad that she had her room as a retreat of sorts. She was allowed a TV and now she could watch movies.

She was also treated a lot better now by the guards and servants. The guards even got her snacks now and then. The nightmares still came at night, but they weren't as long-term anymore. She had them, but she could also calm herself down afterward.

The door outside wasn’t locked anymore, though she still had one guard at night. It was a suggestion from her therapist, to help her feel safe at night and to also help her if she started sleepwalking again. At first, she didn’t like the idea of a strange male hanging around with the ability to enter her private space at will. Over time, they managed to gain her trust, especially after one night of sleepwalking.

She left her room, and the guard on duty, George, called her therapist and then followed her outside. She went up on the ramparts of the castle. George got very nervous because she kept getting closer and closer to the edge. She came to a part that had a step-down shelf. He went under her on the shelf. That was when she jumped; instead of falling to her death, he caught her.

She woke up right then and there. At first, she struggled, until he calmed her down enough for her to look and see where she was. When she did, she grabbed onto George with a death grip. He grunted at the pain but walked her all the way to her room, where the therapist was waiting.

Since then, George has been on duty most nights, and the nights that he isn’t, there is someone he personally vouches for. She still keeps her door locked from the inside to help with the sleepwalking.

Last night, though, she had a different nightmare, a memory she had pushed away to the back of her mind. She was 10 years old. Alpha Michael was holding her hand as they were walking down a long hallway; it was like a hospital. There were people in white lab coats all looking at her as she was put up onto a table. They strapped her down, and she was very scared. They poked her with needles and scraped her skin till it bled.

As she got older, it was a lot harder to trick her, so first they used her parents to drug her food. After that, she stopped eating and drinking things her mother gave her. They resorted to hunting her down with tranquilizer darts.

They stopped all of a sudden though. She wasn’t sure why, except maybe Alpha Michael was getting worried they might force her into drastic measures or their secret getting out. After all, he could only threaten someone for so long before it would no longer matter.

There was always this one guy in the shadows. He wasn’t one of the doctors, but he was always there. She could always see his eyes glowing gold. He always gave her the creeps; she called him the Lurker.

Valdis Cessair hated shifters, even though he was one. He was tall, with an olive complexion, dark hair, and golden eyes. Most women would consider him handsome, that is, until they spent any time with him. He was not one to settle down and have a family; he preferred to hunt, kill, and eat his dates. It was great sport and a stress reliever.

Waiting for this informer was a pain in the ass. He was the only source of information at the moment that he had, so wait he did. When he saw a flash of light, he got out of his car and headed into the woods.

He really never saw the informer, but he could smell him a mile away. He was a rogue. The longer they are rogue, the stinkier and crazier they got. From the smell of this guy, he was most definitely crazy. Val was waiting for the day he could kill this piece of crap. He hated rogues more than anything else in the world. It would be just a matter of time before he outlived his usefulness, and then Val could have his fun.

Val waited for it to start talking.

“There are two packs in this mountain region. One is the Storm Raven Moon pack; the other is the Bear Mountain Clan. Werewolves and werebears. If I were you, I would leave the bears alone. They are assholes, and well, others have gone missing when they go into their territory.”

“The Storm Raven isn’t anything to take lightly, either. It’s a warrior pack. Their Luna will be back soon, and it’s rumored that she is having her first pup. That means that the pack will be even harder to infiltrate. That is all the info I have for now. I will try to get more, but the two packs you asked about are the worst ones for rogues to go near.”

Val walked away, back to his car. So, werewolves and werebears too. The bears being together in a clan is something unique and dangerous. It is a temptation he couldn’t resist. If he could get both werewolf and werebear specimens, then the secret society of Science will get off his back.

It’s kind of funny though, that those arrogant scientists never discovered that he was a shifter, too. Then again, he suspected that they knew, but he was more useful to them in getting them specimens than being one.

He would also make sure to get children and adults this time; they will pay a premium for both, but they love the kids the most. Something about them being more resilient against pain and experimentation.

Time to get his extraction groups together for some recon and training. First, though, he called in two of his best to scout out the territories and see how far they can push in without being discovered.

Duncan, Adira, Marnie, and Marco were all returning to the Raven Moon in a long line of black SUVs. The King was not playing when it came to security. He made sure that no one was going to attack them on the road. He also assigned all the security that went with them to stay with them, adding to Duncan's already impressive force.

Marnie and Adira were in the back seat going through baby names and baby stores sites online. Duncan mind-linked Marco. “Our pup is going to be spoiled rotten before he is even born.”

Marco laughed. “Wait till you see what is waiting for you both at home. You don’t honestly think that they were not going to throw a party, did you?”

Duncan laughed. “I know, and I look forward to it. Adira never got much of a chance to meet the pack. This will be ideal for her; soon she isn’t going to have as much mobility.”

“I just hope everyone is on board with their new Luna. She wasn’t officially recognized or given the official Luna acceptance ceremony.”

“Don’t worry, Duncan. I had a ceremony of sorts, and everyone was on board and loves their new Luna.”

Duncan couldn’t help it; he was getting an uneasy feeling. Something was stirring in the air and hiding in the shadows. Sigh. He hoped it was just because he was tired. Still, he wasn’t going to ignore the feeling. Once things were settled down, he was going to have a meeting with all his warriors.

“Marco, after the party tomorrow, as soon as possible, I want a meeting with all the warriors and all the ones sent by the King. I will not be caught with our pants down.”

“Yes, Alpha. It is good to have you home again. Now I can get some sleep.”

He was going to see about expanding his territory a little bit. There were no other packs near him except for Jack's. With all these extras, he could have a guard every ten feet on all his borders and still have plenty left over.

The very next day, Jack was home. One of his border guards informed him of some unusual tracks; they didn’t go far into their territory, but they did get inside it. Jack went with his second in command to investigate.

Once they got there, Jack could smell the faint scent in the air, and looking at the tracks, he knew instantly that it wasn’t good. His second was right there with him, knowing also what they were dealing with, as he let out a sigh.

“Great. Things just get settled down, and now we have to deal with fucking werecats. Not sure which type we are dealing with; the scent is too faint. It doesn’t matter though. They are all tree-climbing, asshole jerks with a superiority complex.”

Jack nodded his head in agreement. He met a few werecats in his time, and he even had one that was a good friend of his. To be honest, though, most werecats were assholes and bastards to deal with. So, what is this one up to?

That Rising Moon crap is still floating around, even after they burned it to the ground. That pack wasn’t werewolves; it was werecockroaches. Wolves would have died by now, not these nasty bastards. They just keep popping up like daisies.

Jack was tired of this crap. It was time to call in his friend the werecat and his pride, to see if they can nip this in the bud. The time for having fun with your enemy is over. It is time to get serious, no more playing. Time to bring the pain.

He also made a mental note to call Duncan to be on the lookout for sneaky kitty cats.

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