"Is that all you've got Daniel!" Jay roars at him making me slightly whimper. Daniel- on the other hand- looks like he was on the verge of passing out.

Jay wasn't soft on him anymore. Since a possible war might be coming, Thaddeus decided that the older teens should try and learn a few more fighting techniques. He even told Jay not to be so kind anymore. That actually hadn't bothered me because I didn't think he actually meant it until I saw the proof earlier. Now I'm just nervous.

I glance at my opponent and wait for the signal to begin. When Jay shouts out "next!" My opponent and I slowly begin approaching each other but then end up circling around each other.

We do this for a couple of moments just looking and waiting for the other person to do something. Finally, the other girl tired of the lack of action takes a step forward and with her hand in the form of a fist. Ducking, I spin around her and aim for her left shoulder. She easily moved out of the way and then we were back to circling each other.

I'm not sure but I think Beta Jay sighs in boredom at the show we are giving him. "Action ladies, you won't be circling around your opponent if this was real! You'd both be dead by now!"

Huffing in annoyance, the girl quickly steps forward again with the same technique she did before. Just as I am about to duck, her left fist makes contact with my face.

I glance at her seeing the look of guilt plastered on her face. Of course she didn't want to hit me. She just had to though.

Letting out a yelp, I step back and recollect myself just as she launches herself at me again. This time though, I remember a technique Beta Jay had taught us.

Taking a step forward, I turn slightly and kick her on her side making her lose balance for a few moments. I swing my fist at her shoulder and send my other fist to her stomach.

She falls down with a cry. Counting down from five, I silently chant she doesn't stand up. When I hit one, I release a breath, I hadn't realised I was holding.

"Alright next," Jay shouts. I turn and glance at him only for him to nod once at me. Satisfied, I walk away with a skip in my step before I realize what I'm doing and compose myself.

The next group goes up while I practice different techniques with Rose. The girl I was fighting before is sitting to the side nursing her side.

Turning back to face Rose I notice the small frown she's wearing. "What's wrong?"

"Mason and I got into an argument," by the look on my face she quickly adds, "it's not a big thing. Just a small disagreement."

"Hope whatever it is, you guys work it out."

She nods and after that we just hang back watching others. I observe everyone around us when a thought comes to mind.

"If Brayton attacked this pack, I think we'd be prepared."

Rose gives me a curious glance. "Why do you say that?"

"Are you kidding? Look around us. Everyone here has been trained for a problem like this Rose. We have over three hundred people in a pack and most can fight and take care of themselves. Even if Brayton did attack, we'd be ready. We have the numbers."

Rose studies me for a moment before breaking into a smile. "I think you learned a few things from your mate."

"Yeah, like what?"

She shakes her head at me instead of answering.

"Alright! Bring it in!" Exclaims Jay.

Rose and I walk together to him just as I see Mason fron the corner of my eye. I glance back at Rose to see her focused on Jay rather than her mate who was trying to get her attention.

Sighing, I turn my attention to Jay who was finished speaking already. "It'd be best if you all took a shower soon," he says cringing at our scents.

Chuckles break through even though we were all nervous during our evaluation with him. Walking with Rose, my mate suddenly appears in my head.

I blush furiously at the thought of him and realize I haven't seen him this morning. I mean, I rarely see him during the mornings but I tried sniffing him out and from the lack of his scent, I concluded he didn't sleep in his bed last night. Great, now I might have to do a bit more snooping around.

I stop making Rose turn and glance at me wierdly. "I need to speak with Jay for a sec, I'll meet you at the pack house."

She nods once and turns away to leave just as Mason comes over. "Rose we need to talk."

"I have nothing to say to you," I hear her respond as I walk away. Whatever their problem is, I hope they just make up quickly.

"Uh Jay?" I speak up when I reach him.

"Yes?" His voice is warily.

"Do you know where Thaddeus is?"

He watches him warily before responding. "He will be gone for a while. He went to go look around the city and then he'll be in the town."

"But I thought you guys check those areas already?" I question.

"Something new popped up. For now, he wants me to watch over you. Please don't try to take off on my watch."

I chuckle. "No promises."

"Oh and," his voice suddenly becomes secretive, "don't tell anyone else that he's gone."

I look at him before he opens the mind link between us. Pack mole doesn't need to know.

Understanding what he meant, I nod and begin walking to the direction of the pack house. He follows along.

"So you're going to follow me everywhere?"

"Not the bathroom," he responds. "But think about it this way, we get to know each other more. I mean you're my bestfriends mate, I think I should know somethings about you."

That statement surprises me. "You two are bestfriends?" I ask bewildered.

Jay looks over at me and laughs. "We grew up together and my father was Beta of this pack when his father was Alpha."

"Tell me more," I state as we walk side by side.

-

- Mole ;)

Dialing the number of Braytons phone, I watch as the Beta and Annabel walk away together.

"Who's this?"

"Who do you think?" I retort.

"Miss you too," the voice on the other side replies.

"Put him on the phone," I speak.

"Can't he's busy," the guy says, "Why'd you call?"

"The Alphas not here," I say looking around me just incase people are nearby.

"What do you mean?" I've slowly gotten his attention now.

"The Alpha is not here. As in he is not in the pack territories. He's in the city and most likely be going to the town afterwards. And from what I've heard he won't be back for a while."

I heard a deep chuckle. "I think you've got your facts mixed up kiddo. We've had people in and out of the city and town and there are no signs of the Alpha. You do know what will happen if I find out you're lying right?"

"Please I'm telling the truth!"

"Listen here kid, is the Alpha in the pack territories right now?"

I think about this and how I haven't seen him today. Shakingly, I shake my head only to remember he can't see me.

"No."

"That's all I needed to know," he replied with a sneer in his tone.

"Will you guys be coming now?" I ask trying to control my tears.

"Most definetly." A sudden silence breaks out between us."We won't hurt them you know. The moment we get there, you three can do whatever families do whenever they haven't seen each other in a long time and leave."

I exhale slowly. "Get it over with quickly."

And with that I end the call immediately letting a tear slip from my eyelids.

-

-

"So tell me more about you and Thaddeus," I ask.

"Where do I start?"

I rolled my eyes. "I hate when people ask that question. Just start from the beginning."

He chuckles lightly before tapping his chin. "Well one day my mother and father mated and-"

"Not that far," I scowl. But seeing the grin on his face, the scowl turns into a small grin.

"So like I said before, our parents both knew each other. I guess you could say they were best pals just like Thaddeus and I now."

I nod with a small grin on my face until I remembered what Thaddeus had told me about his father being an abusive monster. But that was all because of a curse. Who was he before the curse took effect?

"So anyways we were both born but with a one year age difference. Thaddeus- is obviously older than me. Um so to start off, we never really liked each other back then."

I blink at the sudden change of words.

"Our parents were on good terms and they tried to get us to befriend each other but it wasn't working. Even as a five year old Thaddeus was stubborn," his lips tilt up in a smile as he relives the memories. A small smile makes its way onto my face as I imagine a stubborn five year old Thaddeus. It isn't very hard to imagine honestly.

"Thaddeus hated me because I took his toy car from him and I hated him because he took my toy train."

I burst into giggles. Jay watched me as I fell apart on the couch. "Yeah, I know that's stupid."

It took me a few moments for me to recollect myself and by then, tears were streaming down my face.

"Continue please," I say with a smirk.

"Anyways we hated each other for a while and fought over stupid things like that. But then his father was affected by the curse years later."

"He told you?" Saying this, I want to slap myself silly. Of course he told his best friend.

"At first he didn't. I knew there was something wrong with him because he wasn't as open and happy like he used to be. I found out later on that his father was hurting him and his mother. I was surprised because his father was like a second father to me and I couldn't see him hurting them like that. So anyways, I gave him empty books to write his thoughts and feelings in since I couldn't connect to him. By then, he was blocking everyone out.

After his mothers death, I guess you could say it wrecked them both. The Alpha- suddenly realizing what he had been doing to his mate for the past years- locked himself away for weeks. My parents had to take care of me and a grieving Thaddeus. We all tried to help them both but it wasn't working. Thaddeus and his father just wanted to be left alone. Soon after Thaddeus began doing different things to try and cope with the loss of his mother. The Alpha returned from leave and resumed his role but it wasn't quite the same anymore. He had this sort of hunger to kill and would do anything to go into battle. Sort of like Brayton."

A gasp escaped me.

"I think he only did that so he could forget about the loss of his mate. That was horrible though. No matter what, you can never forget you're mate. So afterwards Thaddeus trained himself hardcore. That was the only positive thing he did back then. He trained and trained and trained while Joseph was out fighting useless battles. His last battle was against a pack that lived peacefully. There was no point in fighting but he tried one last thing before he was challenged by Thaddeus."

"What was it?"

"He killed the Luna of the pack."

My eyes widened and my lips parted. "What? How?"

"He snapped her neck."

I leaned back in complete horror. My hands shook while I felt lightheaded. I was sure I looked green.

"What was her name?" I struggled getting the words out as thoughts formed in my head. "What was her name?"

"Charon."

-

- "This is the reason Brayton hates this pack and Thaddeus so much," I murmured.

Jay nodded. "But he must know that Thaddeus didn't kill her."

"He does, Joseph wasn't so secretive about it towards Brayton. He loved killing and making people suffer."

"But I don't get it. We were told it was a silver bullet to the chest."

"I'm guessing he didn't want anyone to know," Jay replies.

We sit in a long silence just thinking. I don't know for how long but my eyes begin to flutter shut. I feel myself being lifted up and off to some place but I don't pay attention.

As I succumb to sleep, I have only one wish: to have my mate say goodnight to me. But he doesn't. In fact, he doesn't come back at all.

-

- "Annabel," a voice says roughly shaking me up. "Get up!"

"What? What?!" I sit up annoyed but instantly I'm on alert when I see the distressed look on Jays face.

"They're here."

"Who's here?" Fear is slowly creeping up at me as Jay rushes me out of the room. He is holding onto my arm as he guides me downstairs. He continues to go down without saying anything. Suddenly, he speaks up.

"Who else would be stupid enough to attack the Dark Moon pack Annabel?"

My throat constricts just as we reach a door. He slams the door and without wasting time, he pushes me inside an unfamiliar room.

"Get the painting off the wall." I do as I am instructed with shaky hands. I gasp at the small door in shock.

Jay returns with a set of keys soon though holding a pale grey key up. "This one opens the first door. The black one opens the next door. Keep going straight and you'll be in a guarded safehouse where everyone else is."

"Where is Thaddeus?" I ask.

"He is not here," by the way he says that I know there is something he isn't telling me.

"Where is my mate?!"

"He left Annabel. He went to your old pack territories because he thought Brayton was hiding out there. He isn't here. Now go."

"Be careful," I tell him just as I open the first door.

"I will," is all I hear as I shut the small door behind me.

Short chapter but guys I honestly love each and every reader and those that commented and voted because on Saturday, June 6 this story was #74 in Werewolf! Now its #45 in Werewolf today!!

It may not seem like a big deal to most but it is!! So I thank each and every one of you. Keep it up guys!

Comment. Vote. Fan

~MissieA out!

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