Chapter 18 - Marcus

"Where do your loyalties lie?" It was the third time he had heard that question and so far he had learned that hydra and wind turbine were not the correct answers.

"Um...solar power?" The man rolled his eyes and walked away. They had only been here for twenty minutes. This far beyond the question they had been left alone. Misty was playing in the snow with Clare as Kyle stood close by with Marcus. Clare was a sweet girl and rather shy.

"Okay so aligning yourself with the villain of Captain America is not right." Kyle said.

"Yeah that guy's a dick. I said it as a joke but...."

"But trying to save the world through wind and solar power isn't right either." Kyle sounded confused. "What is with these people?"

"Beats me your the one that grew up here. " Marcus shrugged as he spotted a young man running up to them.

"Kyle!!" He yelled excitedly. "You're back!"

"Hey Kendall!" Kyle returned the younger man's enthusiasm as they embraced. "Clare come here baby. I want you to meet my little brother. Kendall this is Clare. She's my mate." He said proudly as Clare tucked herself into his side. "Man what happened here? Things were tense when I left but now it feels like I'm standing on a powder keg."

"Where do your loyalties lie?" Asked a pretty girl.

"Where they should. And you?" Kendall said guardedly.

"Exactly as they always were. Did you get the recipe?"

"The one for cake?"

"Yes. Are you going to make it?"

"Yeah but it may be too late for some to enjoy."

"I understand.". The girl walked away at that.

"Okay Kendall. Time to clue me in." Kyle said patiently.

"The elders are trying to take control of the pack. The Alpha didn't fall for their ruse and ripped off Thendrik's head and put in a jar on porch of the pack house as a warning." Kendall whispered. "The elders didn't like that and had dad attacked while he was out on a run because killing one of the elders was his idea. Every body knows he will remain loyal to his nephew."

"Of course he will. To betray Alpha Asmund is to betray his little sister." Kyle said. "But is he okay?"

"Yeah that was two months ago. He's fine now. But Asmund took it personally and as a threat to the Luna. She was with Dad at the time of the attack and she is terrified of the forest now. The Gamma put it out there that he was concerned about her safety while she is at school and most of us took up the cause. We protect her there. Well after publicly executing the guy that attacked dad the elders put out a hit on the Luna herself. The Gamma is still in the I.C.U. of the pack hospital after warding of seventeen attackers that remain unidentified."

"Fuck!" Kyben growled at the thought of Victoria in danger.

"What did Asmund do about that?"

"What can he do? He can't openly move against the elders and they can't make another move without tipping their hand. Some of the pack say that the elders are well within their rights to do what they are doing and unfortunately those of us that know for a fact that Asmund is in the right are few and far between. We are also the target of attacks so we have to meet in private. Hence the code. The next meeting is tonight at ten."

"Where is this meeting?" Marcus asked.

"Our place. Every body that supports the Alpha wil be there." Kyle said as he looked around as if he was expecting an attack. "Look I gotta go. Best get Clare inside where she's safe." With that he rushed off.

"Misty! It's really col-" Marcus didn't get the words out before a large brown wolf lunges out of the woods towards them. Clare launched forward as she shifted snatching the back of Misty's thick pink coat in here teeth and sprinting in the direction that Kendall had gone. Both Kyle and Marcus shifted and charged towards the attack to meet it head on.