After the conversation with my father, I headed outside to look for my mate. He was standing by the trees out in the front yard, talking on the phone. As soon as I approached him, he hung up, although not before I caught the name on the caller ID.

"Were you talking to Rosalie Dupont?" I asked him.

He nodded.

I frowned. "Where do you know each other from?"

"I met her yesterday, just before your emergency conference."

"Oh, cool," I said. I found it rather weird that my socially-awkward mate was talking on the phone to people he just met, but I dismissed the worries out of my head.

"Anyway, Frankie, I need to ask you a question," I told him seriously.

He raised his eyebrows. "Sure."

"It's about when we first met," I said, and he stiffened, knowing where this was going. "You had a wound on your leg, and you had cuts and bruises all over your body."

He twitched, but continued to remain silent. As always.

"The day I found you...you were attacked by rogues, weren't you?" I asked him gently.

Frankie swallowed, but didn't say anything further. His silence only confirmed my suspicions.

"Do you know why they attacked you?"

"I..." he tried, and I could hear the shaking in his voice. "They wanted to kill me."

"Did they say anything to you? Anything about attacking other packs?"

He shook his head.

"Did they have any weapons on them?"

"No," he said in a small voice. "They were just regular rogues. I think."

I pinched the bridge of my nose, frustrated with myself. I really hoped Frankie knew something about the rogues who had attacked him, but unfortunately, his arrival here seemed to have been an isolated incident.

I moved onto the topic of technology, which had been on my mind ever since the conference. I used to think that my pack (and Rosalie's) were pretty futuristic and advanced. But for the first time in my life, I briefly considered the possibility that perhaps, we were slightly understaffed.

"A long time ago, when the rogues first began attacking, you mentioned something about technology, and how there's some really advanced tech out there. Do you know what kind of packs have these types of equipment?"

"I...any pack with a lot of money, that's for sure," he said finally. "A pack like yours, even. I've seen the types of weapons you produce. They're definitely not standard for most werewolf communities."

"Our pack didn't become one of the best for nothing," I said, pride creeping into my voice. "We've got some of the best security in the continent."

But it might not be enough, the little voice warned me in my head.

Shut up, I hissed back. We'll win this battle.

Frankie seemed nervous, and I got the impression that he was scared about all of these weapons we were talking about.

"Don't worry, Hedgehog," I said. "You're safe here. I promise. I'll never let anything hurt you."

He took my hands in his, another warm gesture that surprised me.

"I know," was all he said.

-

'Nic, how's your investigation going?' I sent him a direct mental message. I had no idea where he was at this particular moment, but I was anxious to update him on Frankie's intel. My brother responded after a few moments.

'It's a lot of work,' he admitted. 'I'm currently staying in Laval, trying to see if this pack has any intel on the rogue attacks.'

'Any new attacks yet?'

'No. The rogues are still quiet.'

'Frankie gave me the idea to look at packs with a lot of money,' I told him. 'They might be the ones who are making these weapons.'

'Yeah, we're in the process of interviewing the more influential packs right now,' he said. 'I'm about to meet with Alpha Leon, so hopefully, I can get some information. One of their technology labs had been pillaged before the rogues went silent.'

Pillaged? What was with the rogues and all the recent thefts? They weren't even killing anyone, just stealing things and destroying properties as they went around the provinces. It was almost as if their goals hadn't been to attack, but rather, to get their hands on something.

'Northern Ontario,' I pondered. 'The GTA.'

'What?'

'Remember when we were talking about those packs - the multigenerational ones with a lot of resources and a lot of money?' I reminded him. The gears in my brain began whirring as I flashed back to the conversation we had a few weeks ago.

'What if...what if the rogues aren't trafficking their weapons from an international source, but rather, stealing them from the packs that have the equipment they need?'

Nic hesitated. 'At the conference, we were told these weapons weren't registered by the country or the committee. Those packs still have to comply with the regulations.'

'But a few of those packs are privatized, and they also have close relationships to the IWC. Besides, let's be real. If you have enough money, you can do illegal things and get away with it.'

'You...you might actually be into something, little bro,' he chuckled. 'When I stop by Ontario, I'll be sure to check out those packs and see what damage has been done. I'll let Rosalie know as well. Anyway, I have to head out now, Ben. I'll keep you updated.'

'Good luck,' I said to Nic before turning to Frankie.

"You ready?" I asked him, who stepped out of the changing room equipped in his athleticwear.

"As ready as I'll ever be," he responded casually, although he did sound slightly nervous.

"Don't worry, Hedgehog, I'll teach you some effective combat moves. Both in your human form, and your wolf form. It's important to know both."

We headed to the large, open arena in the gym. I hadn't been to the training centre for the past few days, and I was looking forward to getting some exercise, despite my pounding head.

"So, Frankie, what do you know about combat?"

"I know the basics, I suppose," he shrugged. "I can defend myself."

"That's good. Can you throw a punch?"

"Of course I can."

I held up my hands in front of me. "Hit me with your best shot."

Frankie threw a solid punch at my palms with enough force to cause me to stagger backwards.

"Good job, Hedgehog," I said, impressed. "That was pretty good form. Are you down for some light sparring?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Want me to take it easy on you?" I gave him a teasing smile.

"Do what you must."

The wave of pain struck me before I could any more. Stumbling from the agony, I clutched my stomach and doubled over.

"Are you okay?" I didn't like hearing Frankie sound so worried, it was my job, after all. I forced a grin onto my face and looked up.

"I...I'm fine, I think."

But the pain was starting to become increasingly relentless. I felt as if the oxygen had suddenly been depleted from the air, and I began gasping for breath.

My mate's eyes widened, and he rushed over to my side. "Bennett? What's wrong? Oh, goddess, we need to get you to the hospital!"

I collapsed onto the mat, and I was faintly able to make out Frankie's desperate voice as the world faded to black around me.