The rest of winter was uneventful. After Christmas, the snow fell almost every day and it was near impossible to step outside. We had to bunker down. Six wolves that hadn't shifted in months under one roof was insane and it drove me crazy. We all were too snappy to deal with one another. Somehow, we survived the chilled months and the snow began to melt. The first thing we did was go for a run and seemed we weren't the only ones with the same idea. The entire pack was outside running around in their fur with parents carrying their pups on their backs.

"Feels nice to get out," Lincoln said as he stretched under the sun. Kyle zipped around us like a child hyped up on sugar.

"Feels nice not to be stuck in a house with you all," I grumbled, and my wolf agreed. She spotted Ryder and followed his beast. She saw him as an older brother now and enjoyed his company. He actually loved the picture frame and placed it at his bedside. We ran for hours and hours until we were beat tired and were sprawled out under the sun. "So what now?" I asked.

"I was thinking of going on a mission," he said, "and I don't think David would approve." This caught my interest.

"This sounds fun. Mind telling me what it is?"

"I want to go get Cassandra." My ears twitched as I looked at Ryder.

"Usually I'm not the voice of reason, but are you insane? We can't just go get her without getting killed. How do you suppose we sneak pass the patrols and what makes you think Cassandra would come with us?"

"I'm sure if we talked to her, then she would come. They won't answer David's calls. If Cassandra knew we've been trying to contact her, then I'm sure she would come home."

"I bet she already knows. She could have returned if she wanted to."

"Alpha Cole won't let her."

"I don't believe that for a second and trespassing on their land won't make things better. If we are caught, then war will come."

"I understand the consequences, but we have to do something. James is wasting away."

"This is ridiculous. I can't believe I'm going to risk my life for her. After all, she is the one who left and didn't come back."

"Savannah..."

"Yeah yeah yeah whatever, when are we doing this?"

"Tonight."I groaned and rolled over, soaking up as much sun as I could before I had to face what was ahead.

***

"I see you invited the whole squad," I said when I saw that everyone was seated in the living room. "You know, I still think this is a bad idea. David is going to be pissed when he finds out if we don't get caught first."

"We're doing this for James," Ryder reminded me.

"So what's the plan?" Lincoln asked.

"It's simple. We get in and get out."

"That's easier said than done. First we need to get pass the patrols without being detected and then we would need to reach Cassandra without being spotted either."

"The rain will protect us. Tonight, it's supposed to rain like cat and dogs meaning our scent won't stick to anything. I had the twins watch the line that faced us for a few days. We go run through during their transition."

"And what about on the way back? Let's say it's easy to get in. How are we going to get out without being noticed?"

"We're going to have to play it off."

"You can't be serious," I growled. "This sounds like a mission for the trackers, not two warriors, a delta, and a beta. They'll sniff us out. They'll especially sniff me out. Kyle, here, is the only one who could do this with ease."

"I can't assign a mission like this without David finding out. I don't have that authority. I can only ask you all to do this as a friend."

"This is a suicide mission."

"Jeremiah will stay here and hold the fort. The five of us will go and get Cassandra."

"Why can't I stay and hold the fort?"

"Because you're a force to be reckoned with."

We waited until it was well into the night before we ran across the border. We had to sneak pass our own patrols and then carefully sneak into Alpha Cole's pack. Getting out of Blackhound was easy, but we had to wait at the line. We only had a short window to get into Alpha Cole's pack. Rain poured down fast and hard, pelting us. It was a pain, but it helped our situation. It meant less patrols and our scent wouldn't stick to everything. The patrols finished quickly, and we ran in during the transition period. Besides the patrols, everyone else should be sound asleep.

"Do you know where she might be?"

"With her family?" Malcolm suggested.

"So we have to sneak into the Alpha's house too?"

"No, it won't come to that. We'll link her from outside," Ryder said.

"Then why the hell didn't we link her from Blackhound," I asked.

"Don't you think we've tried? She won't listen. We're going to make her see reason." Even if it cost us our life? The alpha's house was huge, much bigger than David's. It was the size of small mansion. I expected Alpha Cole to live in luxury. He was that type of alpha.

"Which room?" Kyle asked. We circled the house. Alpha Cole and his mate, Cassidy's scent were the ones I smelled the most since they lived here for so long. Their scent would stick far longer under the rain. As we ran around, I spotted her sitting in the window. I shifted into my skin and began to climb.

"Savannah, what are you doing?" Ryder hissed.

"I see her. I'm not waiting around so we can get caught."

"Be careful." I extended my claws and stuck then into the side of the house to make sure that I didn't fall. The cold rain hit my nake body as I pushed through it. I growled as I fought against the current of the rain. It pummeled down on me, but it wasn't enough to stop me. I made it to her window and she screamed when she saw me.

"Open the damn window, Cassandra, before I break in," I growled through the link. She winced since I forced my way in.

"What are you doing here?"

"You have 5 seconds to open this damn window before I break in and wake the whole house up. I don't think you would want that since Ryder and the others are down there just waiting to get caught by your father who will have us killed for trespassing." Her eyes widened, and she quickly opened the window. "You have some nerve, Cassandra."

"What are you doing here? Why are you all here?" she asked, and I glared at her.

"We came to get you, what else?"

"What?"

"This wasn't my plan. I rather be back at the cabin watching tv where it's nice and warm, not on this mission that could get me killed. I rather not die for you," I snapped and she flinched.

"You shouldn't be here."

"No shit!" I growled. I took a deep breath to calm myself down. My wolf and were pissed and being this close to her wasn't easy. "Now, you're going to jump out that window and come back with us."

"No," she shook her head. "I can't."

"You will even if I have to throw you over my shoulder. I don't like wasting my time, Cassandra and you have a lot of friends who risked their necks for you and James." She stilled when I said his name. "You got some nerve," I said again. "You left. You left him. Do you have any idea what this is doing to him? Oh right, you don't because you shut him out like you shut out everyone else."

"I couldn't stay. I was protecting the pack."

"Bullshit!" I snapped. "You were scared. You were too scared to stand up to Daddy."

"What did you want me to do? He's my father."

"And James is your mate, but you left him easily. You chose your father over him when it should have been James that you chose. Your father will get the hell over it, but James is the other half of your soul. You two are supposed to be a team. When he needed you, where we you? You were here all damn winter long without a single call." She looked away ashamed. I growled lowly when I sensed someone coming. We didn't have time for this. Her scream had woken them up and we needed to get out of here. "We need to go now," I said grabbing her wrist and pulling her towards the window.

"I can't just leave. My father will know."

"We don't have time to think about that," I said. "Ryder, come under the window. I'm throwing her down."

"Wait a minute, Savannah," he said, but it was too late. I pushed Cassandra out the window without remorse and her scream cut through the air. Her door slammed open revealing a male I hadn't met before. From his scent, I knew he was an alpha, but he wasn't Alpha Cole. He must be Cassandra's brother, the one who would take over soon. I winked at him and jumped out the window. I landed on my feet and turned to the others.

"We need to leave right now. They know." We all shifted into our fur and ran like hell to the nearest border.

"We can't go out the way we came," Kyle said. "That's where they'll think we would go."

"If we go the opposite way, it would be much harder to make it back to Blackhound," Lincoln said.

"Which pack would. Be the safest to enter?" I asked as a howl rang throughout the air. "Shit,"I cursed.

"Duskhill," Malcolm said.

"No, that's Alpha Lancer's pack," Ryder said.

"Odin Lancer?" I asked.

"Yes, and we can't go there."

"We can't run into the Keepers. Alexander is probably the first person Alpha Cole would call. At least Alpha Lancer hates Alpha Cole as much as we do."

"I doubt he would help anyone from Blackhound either."

"Does Alpha Lancer hate David or does he just tolerate him?" I asked.

"I don't think he hates him, but I know he doesn't care for him."

"Well then we're going to have to hope that he despises Alpha Cole more because we have company," I said referring to the wolves running behind us. Thankfully we had a head start so we didn't need to shed any blood today. We ran north until we crossed the border from Alpha Cole's pack into Duskhill, Alpha Odin Lancer's pack.

We were instantly met with his patrols. They growled and snarled at us, daring us to take another step into their land. Ryder shifted in front of them and raised his hands in surrender.

"We do not mean any harm. We seek shelter here. Please allow us to speak with Alpha Lancer." Their nostrils flared, and they looked from one another in communication. Their leader shifted to his skin.

"Who are you? You smell of Blackhound. What are Blackhounds doing on this side of the line?"

"All will be explained to Alpha Lancer. Tell him that it's Delta Ryder."

"We have linked him, and it is up to him whether he wishes to see you all or have you killed."

"Maybe we should turn back around," Cassandra said. "If I talk to my father, I'm sure he'll see reason."

"I highly doubt that," I said. "I rather take my chances with Alpha Lancer than Alpha Asshole."

"I've gotten word from my alpha. He's curious to hear your story. Two of us shall escort you to the pack house. Any funny business and you will be killed without hesitation, understand?"

"Yes," Ryder answered. They both shifted into their wolves and we were escorted by two wolves from that patrol group. It was still late at night so there was no one out. A sleepy looking woman was rubbing her eyes when we arrived at the pack house.

"This better be good," she grumbled. "You two are dismissed." The two wolves nodded and ran back to their patrol team. "You all need to shift. I don't think the head omega will appreciate you all dripping all over her clean floor." We all shifted to our skins and were offered a towel then dry clothes. "Odin must have had a damn good dream to even allow this," she sighed once we all were dry and clothes. "Follow me." She took us to what I assumed was Alpha Lancer's office.

Sitting behind the desk was the alpha himself. Her had black hair and striking green eyes that would strike fear into any being. They were intense as they looked over each of us. He looked at us and we challenged him. We didn't look away like the others. We held his gaze for what felt like an eternity before he finally looked away.

"I wasn't expecting Blackhound wolves to cross into my territory unannounced, especially during this time of night. Explain to me why I shouldn't have you killed?"

"Alpha Lancer," Ryder began, "we beg you to let us run back to Blackhound. We came from Alpha Cole's territory."

"Why? Were you trespassing there too?"

"We had no choice. We needed to return Alpha David's mate to him."

"Are you saying that Alpha Cole took your beta's mate from him? Which one of you belongs to James?" Cassandra raised her hand timidly. She winced when Alpha Lancer looked at her.

"Did he kidnap you?"

"No, I left along with my father."

"Then why are you all here now?"

"She only left with him to avoid war. Alpha Cole would wage war against Blackhound if his daughter didn't return to him, but James needs her. He won't eat. He won't sleep. He's deteriorating before our eyes. We had to bring Cassandra home."

"I honestly don't care about war between David and Cole, but since I despise Cole, you may return to Blackhound from my territory. One of you, though, isn't a Blackhound wolf." He then looked at me. "I want to speak with you alone."

"Will you be okay?" Ryder asked me.

"I'll be alright." The others left, leaving me alone with Alpha Odin Lancer.

"What is your name, beta female?"

"Savannah."

"Ah, you're that Savannah. David did call me, but he didn't sound too thrilled."

"He doesn't care for you."

"Yeah and I don't care for him."

"He is very pushy like a mother hen," I said, and Odin Lancer laughed. My wolf peered out, watching this alpha before us.

"You're right. He's always seen himself as the father of everyone. So, Savannah, you feel it, don't you?"

"Of course I do. I felt it the moment you answered David's phone call."

"My father always talked about finding the right beta. Every alpha had a beta that would fit them perfectly. It's not like a mate bond, but there is a bond nonetheless. Every beta wolf I've come across so far have not been the one. Either they're too weak or too annoying. A lot of wolves have come to me asking to be my beta and none of them were right."

"None of them were me."

"You sound cocky."

"You'll grow to love it, Odin." He raised a brow.

"We're already on first name basis?"

"Of course. You are my alpha now." He shook his head as he reached into one of his desk drawers and pulled out a sacred knife. A sacred knife was used in initiation ceremonies. A regular knife wouldn't do.

"Give me your hand." He slit his hand and then he slit mine. He pressed my hand against his and the connection was formed. I felt my old ties to Willow leave and I was sucked into Duskhill.

"Welcome home, Savannah."