Two childlike laughter greeted me when I walked towards the house. Two children were playing in the tree with no supervision in sight.

"What are you two doing?" I called, causing both of the children to stop what they were doing and look at me. I scowled, causing them to look down. I wasn't mad at them, but I was definitely mad at my cousin for not being out here. "Where is Thomas?" I asked, waiting for them to come over to me.

"Inside," Snitch replied. He hopped out of the tree and walked over to me, his sister trailing behind. "He didn't want to come outside and watch us play."

"The others?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Drake took them into town," Snitch said. "He is preparing something, and I can not say what, for you." He looked at his sister when she pulled on his sleeve. His eyes turned brighter when he looked back at me. "Oh ya, Reeves collected Bernie and Ari. He's taking them on a picnic. Toby went with Drake."

I pursed my lips in worry. I did not like the thought of those two only being with Reeves, because I could sense that Mahlkha had been gaining more strength.

"Moria went with them. She needed to cool off because of something." He shrugged, not really caring that he didn't know why she had went with them. "She wouldn't elaborate, but she did have that look in her eyes." He shuddered, and I could tell that he did not whatever look was in her eyes.

I huffed and nodded my head. "Has anyone that wasn't invited tried to get in?"

"That Alpha did," Snitch replied. "They got Valerie and Caroline out. They weren't able to get the boy out." He frowned, worry flickering through his eyes. "The Alpha is scary," he added. "He tried to break down the shield."

"Then he shouldn't have left you two out here by yourselves," I grumbled. I glanced at Maddi. "You didn't want to go?" I asked, causing her to shake her head no. I nodded my head before huffing. "Thomas better have a really good reason for letting you two out here by yourselves with him trying to get in." I gestured for them to follow me follow me and started to walk to the house.

"Go easy on him," Snitch said, running a bit to catch up with my long stride. "He found him."

I bit back a smirk and looked down at him. "Be prepared."

Snitch didn't reply but groaned. He knew what was coming, and I could tell that he was praying to the Moon Goddess for some miracle.

However, the stars were not in his favor.

***

"You owe me fifty dollars, Snitch," I said, catching Thomas kissing some guy. "Pay up." I raised an eyebrow when both Thomas and I assume mate jumped apart. "Give me one good reason as to why I shouldn't punch you in the nose," I said, folding my arms across my chest. I gave him my best glare, causing him to look down.

"Maybe because, I will kill you if you hurt him," Thomas's mate growled out, causing me to glance at him. He dark gray eyes flashed black, and I could tell that I had angered his wolf. "I suggest you leave and never come back before I kick your ass."

I nodded my head, approving him as my cousin's mate. I could tell that he was the new Beta Chosen of my old pack with some Alpha blood in him.

"Peter," Thomas said, pulling on his shirt. His face was red, and I could see the guilt in his eyes. He knew that I was mad at him for leaving those two by themselves when it was his job to protect him. "She's the one that I was talking about. That's Skylar."

The male, Peter, stared at me warily. He did not move from in front of my cousin, and I was sure that it was because I had threatened him. "Then why did she threaten you?" he asked. "Family do not-"

"I threaten everyone," I said, interrupting him. "And, he had one job that he had failed at while I was away."

Peter furrowed his brows in confusion. He relaxed his stance slightly, knowing that I would not harm his mate. He moved to his side and placed a protective arm around his waist, causing Thomas's face to turn a darker red. "Which was..?"

Thomas glanced beside me to see Snitch amn Maddi beside me. He bit back a groan and moved a hand through his hair. His lips were still swollen, so I could tell that that was what he had been doing rather than paying attention to them. "My job was to make sure that both Maddi and Snitch were not alone outside," he said. "I'm guessing you found them outside and probably in that tree?"

I nodded my head, even though I was sure he all ready knew it. I glanced at Peter before looking at my cousin. I had no idea how much was said to him, and I couldn't help but wonder if anything was said about me. "How much have you told him?" I asked.

"I told him enough to have him help us get both Valerie and Caroline out," he replied. "We tried to get the boy out, but..." He shrugged his shoulder and looked away from me, guilt surrounding him like a blanket.

"His hold was too strong?" I asked, causing him to nod his head. I nodded. "I'll see what I cam do." I moved a hand through my hair and sighed. All I was wanting to do was sleep, but I knew that I wouldn't be able to sleep without knowing if all of my pack members were safe or not.

"Don't get yourself killed in the process," he warned, acting like the older brother that I knew he was. "You need to sleep first."

I hid an eyeroll, causing Snitch to snicker. "I'm Skylar by the way," I said to Peter, even though I all ready knew that he knew my name. "Skylar Ross." I held out my hand.

Peter walked over to me and grabbed my hand. "Peter, Peter Ryan," Peter replied, shaking my hand. He studied me, and I could see a bit of recognition in his eyes. "You... look like someone that I know, well heard about," he said. Hope filled his eyes, and I couldn't help but wonder as to why there was such hope in them. He didn't know me, but for some reason, that look told me that he did.

My whole body grew tense when he said that. I kept my face a mask and watched as he studied me before shaking his head in a manner of "it can't be her". "What do you mean by that?" I asked, my voice somewhat colder.

Snitch tensed up beside me. He grabbed his sister's hand and started to make his way to his room. Hs knew that I didn't like them seeing me lose my temper or close to losing it.

Peter watched as they left before turning his gaze to me. "You look somewhat like Nathaniel and the late Luna Emma Rose," he said. He took his hand out of mine and shook his head, grimacing. The hope was fading from his eyes and was filled with dread. "I-I'm sorry," he said. He cleared his throat and rubbed a hand through his hair. "There has been a rumor going around that the young Alpha is still alive. Some say that the Rogues didn't kill her nor thr Luna. Some say that the Alpha did something to them."

"And if the young female is alive? Why do you want her?"

Peter smiled, sadly and shrugged. "I want to help her," he replied. "I want to serve her and help her protect everyone in the pack."

"Nathaniel said that half of the pack was murdered," I said, causing him to shake his head. "Then, what happened to them?"

Peter stood tall and folded his arms across his chest. "I will not answer you until you answer me," he said, causing me to raise an eyebrow. "Are you the daughter of Nathaniel and Emma Rose?"

I studied him, trying to gauge as to what he wanted to do with that information. I could tell that he was being serious. I had no idea what he had planned, but a nod from Luna lead me to believe that I was able to trust him. I looked at him with a look that only an Alpha could muster, causing him to instantly bow his head in submission and uttered one word that would either kill me or help me kill Nathaniel.

"Yes."