-10:00am-
Niklaus and the guards going with him on the hunt were all packing and getting ready to go. Neil was in the room that Blink had been keeping them in, he had asked one of the guards to give him a sudoku book, unfortunately he was only allowed to have crayons to avoid him using them as weapons. Blink was in his own room staring out the window and thinking about the events to come.
***
-10:00am-
James had stopped the troop for a quick break, they had been moving nonstop for the last two hours. He sent the two grey wolves to find somewhere to refill their water bottles.
"How do we look James?" Atlas was walking back from taking his bathroom break.
"If we keep moving at this speed then we should be there by noon."
"Good." Atlas took in a breathe. "Do you think they're still alive?"
"I don't think this guy would've held Niklaus captive for so long just to kill him." James sighed. "That doesn't mean that they'll be in good condition when we get there though."
Atlas's thoughts travelled back to Harper. He was the future alpha of the Red Vine Pack, if he lost his mate at this age then it would ruin him. He would no longer be able to lead like he's supposed to.
"We have to bring them home, no matter what."
"I know."
"James, no. Matter. What." Atlas looked James in the eyes, telling him that he might have to disobey Atlas's earlier orders to leave if things go awry.
"I know. No matter what." James nodded his head, telling Atlas he understood his new unspoken command.
***
-11:00am-
"We're almost done packing." Niklaus walked into the room, only to be met with a cold glare from Neil.
"In don't get it Niklaus." Neil sighed. "How could you possibly have agreed to this hunt?"
"I agreed because in return I was allowed the chance to get my wolf back."
"What does your wolf matter if your soul is gone?"
"Neil, if Shade decides to come back then I'll be stronger." Niklaus listened to the door for a moment. "If I get stronger then we'll be able to get out of here together, and can take anyone else who's forced to be here with us."
"I guess but Niklaus.. what if he doesn't come back?"
"I don't know. I don't think that's really an option."
***
-11:00am-
"We made better time than I thought we would." James and Atlas stood atop a ledge that overlooked Blink's pack house.
"We did."
They walked back to the rest of their troop and gave orders to each of them to rest and regain their stamina.
"We'll stay here, out of sight and smell, and regain our strength. Then, in an hour, we'll storm the castle."
"Castle?" Atlas raised an eyebrow.
"It looks like a castle." James shrugged his shoulders. "Plus, it just sounds right." James and Atlas let out a chuckle, something neither of them had done much of since Neil and Niklaus disappeared.
They could feel it in the air. Hope. The hope that Niklaus and Neil are okay, at least alive. The hope that they'd rescue them. Then, there was also the feeling of something more than hope.
***
-11:30am-
"Are you ready for the hunt, Niklaus?" Blink had, had his guards bring Niklaus and Neil to the table for lunch before the hunt.
"I am."
"However, you still sound unsure." Blink stopped mid bite and looked over to Niklaus.
"My wolf still hasn't returned."
"I told you, telling you the story of that week would only unlock your wolf's choice to come back." Blink continued eating. "However, even if your wolf doesn't choose to return, you'll still have your abilities: smell, hearing, healing, speed, everything should be back aside from your ability to shift."
"Right." Niklaus looked over to Neil who still hadn't touched his plate. "Neil, you need to eat."
"I'm not hungry." Neil shoved the plate slightly away from him. "It's hard to eat when there's something gross in front of you." Neil then lifted his head and made direct eye contact with Niklaus.
"Now, now boys. Play nice." Blink was sitting with fingers interlocked in front of him and a grin on his face. "Neil, one of the guards will take you back if you're done eating. Niklaus, I'd like to speak to you."
Blink waited for his guards to take Neil out of the dining hall before starting his conversation with Niklaus.
"You should tell him, you know." Blink stood from his seat and gestured for the maids to take the dishes.
"I know." Niklaus glared at Blink through the corner of his eye.
"Oh, don't look at me like that. I won't tell him." Blink started walking out of the room and told one of the guards to take Niklaus back.
'Yet.' Blink walked up the stairs to his room.
***
-11:45am-
"Atlas, I think we're ready to move in."
"No, I can feel it. We need to wait." Atlas had a look on his face that James couldn't quite read.
"Fine we'll wait. In the meantime I'll tell the group to hide our medical supplies, just in case, so we don't end up losing it during the rescues."
"Yeah, sounds good." Atlas was staring intently at the pack house. He had a feeling that he couldn't shake. They needed to wait just a little longer.
-11:55am-
"James!" Atlas called over to James and waved him towards the ledge. Atlas pointed at the front of the pack house.
"The doors are opening." James's face changed to a look of surprise. He ran back to their troop and told them what was happening. "They seem to be leaving, be prepared to go in quickly and silently. This is our chance to rescue them."
"James, come take another look at this!" Atlas waved James back to the ledge and pointed towards the group that was leaving from the pack house.
"Wait.." James grabbed the binoculars from his pack and looked again. "Is that-?"
"Niklaus." Atlas's face changed to anger. Was Niklaus just a ploy to kidnap Neil? Was he a spy?
"Atlas, we don't know what's happening. Calm down." James grabbed Atlas's shoulder. Atlas pulled away from him and walked over to the group.
"You." Atlas pointed towards the two red wolves and the silver wolf. "When I give the signal go after that group that's leaving. I want Niklaus taken alive, I have some questions for him. The rest of us will go find Neil." Atlas looked over to James and gave a nod.
"It's time to go." James nodded back and they started down towards the pack house.