Derick's POV
Lisa had been here since two this afternoon. From the moment she arrived she looked a little rough around the edges. Her makeup was thicker than normal, and she wore a medical boot on her left foot. She had not been thrilled with the idea of going to the doctors as she just wanted to rest but Mathew had argued her into a corner. It had been playing heavily on my mind all through the appointment and that weight in the nail salon how difficult it had been to get her to come. Surly she would want what's best for me as her mate? But why did she put up a fuss and refuse to wear that medical thing? Hell, even refusing treatment from the pack doctor did not make sense and as much as I tried to explain things to Murphy he would not listen and followed her around like a lost puppy dog.
I grumbled. We had returned to the pack house and I was lying in bed as Lisa slept soundly next to me. She had taken what was apparently strong painkillers and sleeping pills prescribed to her by her packs doctor to help her recover.
Now in the silence of the bedroom I let my senses run and could hear the faint sounds of the twins getting ready for bed in Mathew and Jenny's apartment below me. I wanted to go and check on them but Murphy refused to leave Lisa. She looked so peaceful when she slept.
I glanced at my phone and scrolled through a few apps then opened the local were-news channels and read about the attacks in the area. They were getting more numerous and looked like wolve attacks. I remembered the reports Mathew and Jenny had made about a possible takeover of our territory. Plotting the attacks in my mind I smirked.
'They're heading towards the old Lightfoot pack lands.' I nodded. 'They seem to be using the gorge and valleys to conceal their movements.' I mind linked the warriors on duty. 'Keep a close eye on the river valleys and gorges while out on patrol. Especially near the blue canyons and old Lightfoot pack lands.' I got a less than enthusiastic response and frowned.
'Hi bro, what's up?' Mathew chimed in.
'I was looking at the resint attacks. The enemy seems to be using the terrain to their advantage. All the attacks are close to river valleys gorges and the cave systems.'
'There are a lot of caves on the Lightfoot territory.' I nodded.
'I think that's where the invader is heading.'
'Stevens is going to have to fight to keep his territory.' I could feel the amusement coming through the mind link as the Lightfoot members got a sense of closure from losing their lands.
'I predict the invader will attack them first establish a foot hold then possibly move towards us from there… or a scissors move and strike from both the Lightfoot and canyon pack lands.'
'Right, leave things to me.' I could hear Mathew assembling a few scouts as he flew into action. I sighed as I felt the presents of my grandmother leave the pack mind link.
Alice's POV
It was good to hear Derick using his brain again, but the lack of response to it made my skin crawl. I sighed and looked to the emails I had received. Over the last few days I had been in touch with old acquaintances and packs that owed me a favour or two and six had offered the children a place if I needed to send them away.
'This one I'll send the twins too. This one Maggy and Lilly to this one…' My wolf, old as she was, whined.
'And these three are to be decoys?' I smirked and nodded.
'We can't let them be found.' With a snort I went through other reports about some recent additions to the pack. It was not unusual for a pack to take on a few new members here and there, but it was certainly not that common. However, over the last three years stragglers had been allowed to enter the pack more frequently and they were in all areas of the pack from simple omegas right up to high Gamma's, even a few of the Alpha's best were once rogues seeking shelter in our pack.
With a click I turned my wheelchair and rolled towards the door the sent blocker on. It was time for this harmless old woman to do her work uninterrupted, but I would need help from Zack.
Mathew's POV
I had been running errands long into the night. Derick had spotted something in the enemy's movements I had not and it had opened a pit in my stomach. I had also noticed that our grandmother had been listening in.
A scent caught my attention and I froze. It was very faint and not one that I smelt often as the owner of the smell was a strange and secretive member of the pack. He lived in the basement, the dungeons actually, and was known to be a master of interrogation. Many years ago my grandmother had rescued the young pup from a very abusive situation and had tried her best to bring him back into society. But the young man proved to be broken beyond help and she gave him all she could to make his life the best it could be. Eventually, he took over the dungeons and was known as the braker of minds and spiller of secrets as he was yet to find anyone who could withstand his methods.
I shuddered. His scent up here meant that that monster was on the move and the only person he ever listened to was my grandmother. Another shudder went through me.
'Grandmother, what are you up to?' there was a long pause.
'Nothing you need to worry about my dear.'
'I smell Zack in the corridors. He's wearing a scent blocker, but I can still get traces of him. Why has he left the dungeons?' there was a sigh in my head.
'Go back to your business pup and I'll do mine.' She commanded and I felt her words push me into action. Reluctantly I went back to my room. I looked to the boys as they slept on the sofa then to Jenny as she sat in bed reading. With a gentle smile that soothed my soul she looked up.
"Mathew?" She questioned. "Is everything all right?" I shook my head and stripped down getting into the bed beside her and snuggling into her lap. She placed her free hand to my head but didn't press further for information. In the morning I would tell her, but for now the night of terror would go on without interference from either of us.