As I sift through the collection of books on witches and magic that my dad has stashed on his shelves, an unsettling sensation washes over me. I can't pinpoint the source, but the unease is so intense that it's hard to focus. 

I reach out to Chris through our mindlink. "I can't shake the feeling that something's off. Is everything alright at the borders?" 

"Alright, maybe it’s nothing after all. Any word about Ava and Marcus?" 

"Not really. Sam and the guards haven't given me any updates yet. I was actually on my way there, so I'll look into it again." 

"Okay, please keep me updated." With that, I cut the connection. 

Despite Chris's reassurance, the feeling still lingered. Can you check with Alex to see if anything's wrong with Saint? I told JJ. 

I could only mindlink my Beta, Delta, and the head warrior. Since I haven't fully accepted Saint, I can't mindlink him like I can with Chris, Sam, and Eli. JJ has accepted Saint's wolf; Alex, that's why he could talk to him. 

I can't reach him. I don't think everything is okay because I can't sense him anymore.

Chris's voice came in, "Jackson there's a rogue attack at the borders right now."

I stood up quickly, leaving my office. "Didn't you say everything was fine?"

"Eli mindlinked me just now and I haven't even gone to check on Marcus."

"Tell Sam to get positioned at the cell, incase this attack is used as a distraction. Let's meet at the borders." 

As soon as I stepped out of the building, I changed into my wolf form and made my way toward the borders, momentarily forgetting about Saint. 

I awoke to a throbbing headache. With a groan, I pressed my hand against my forehead and got to my feet, looking around my surroundings. I found myself in the woods, and the fact that I couldn't perceive any pack scents indicated that I was far from the pack. I scanned the area but couldn’t see Marcus or Ava. Where could they have gone? 

 I heard Marcus voice but it was faint. It was like he was talking but from above the trees, like his voice was everywhere but not loud. I looked up and around but no one was in sight.

You don't understand, Marcus. This would help me, I wouldn't have to choose between being a witch and werewolf. They can make it happen. Ava stated firmly, her voice cutting through the air with unmistakable clarity. Gradually, their voices started to fade and become less clear. 

"What?" I say out loud, causing Marcus to pause. I.....he's awake. How much....he hear? This....your fault, why did....bring him along? Ava said, her voice tinged with frustration.

Saint? Are you- That was the last thing I heard before it was silent. I looked around in panic, searching for them. That's when I smelt a wolf, the scent was familiar but I couldn't see anyone around. I changed to my wolf as I began to run towards the direction of the pack.

A sharp pain pierced through my arm, causing me to lose my balance as my back collided with the trees I couldn't dodge. I let out a whimper of agony while transforming back into my human form, struggling to rise to my feet as I clutched my wounded arm and scanned the area for the attacker. 

Ava stood in front of me holding a dagger stained with blood that I'm guessing is mine. "This has to be quick, alright? So that I can be one step closer to getting what I want." She said, using her clothes to clean the dagger slowly.

"What do you mean get what you want?"

"I don't think you need that information okay? You'll soon be dead anyways." She said with a wild look of madness.

"Did you use Marcus to get to me?"

"Don't speak of that traitor," she spat, her tone laced with bitterness. "He didn't even help me out now that I needed him the most." She said, walking slowly towards me, causing me to walk back.

"But it's fine okay, I can kill Saint myself." She whispered that part and laughed cruelly. "Ah, it was so much fun getting into their heads and making them do stuff."

"I don't understand, why do you want to kill me?"

"I said, that's not for you to know." Her tone was full of anger and venom as she charged towards me. 

But she didn't get to me as a wolf attacked her, biting the dagger off her hands. The wolf growled at her, coming to stand in front of me. 

"Fuck off, Marcus. I thought I told you to stay out of this."

The wolf, who I've come to know is Marcus, growled again as he charged at her. Both of them fought as I tried to find the dagger, frantically searching for it. I finally saw it when I heard a loud whimper. I turned back to see Marcus laying on the ground, unconscious.

"I fucking hate fighting. Now back to you." She said as she approached me.

I held the dagger towards her, "did you kill him?"

She scoffed, "of course not. You think I'd kill him because of you?"

"S-Stay back," I said weakly, my head still pounding and my arm ached from the dagger.

"You would have been dead a long time ago if it wasn't for your damn Alpha. But let me tell you, he's not saving you this time Saint. You know why? Cause there's a rogue attack at the borders. He'll be too busy protecting his pack to think of you." She laughed cruelly.

How come there's a rogue attack at the borders? Everything was okay before I disappeared with them. Dread filled me as I continued moving away from her. She stopped as she looked towards the left, we both could hear a wolf running from a distance. That would be Jackson because I can smell him. 

Ava kicked the knife out of my hands. Her eyes turned black as it began to glow, her lips moving in hushed chants. She gripped my throat as I squirmed, holding her hands on my throat. 

Marcus, now in human form, came from behind, his arms going around her throat and this made her to release my throat. I fell down, coughing hard as I tried to get air into my body. Marcus sudden shout made me look up. I saw him fall to the ground, shaking as blood poured out from his mouth.

I rushed to him, holding him on my laps as more blood came out of his mouth. My heart dropped as I watched him in that state.

"You damn fool, that was meant for Saint not you!" Ava let out a frustrated shout before she began to run. I could hear Jackson growl and chase after her but I couldn't care to look at them. Not when Marcus laid on my laps with blood still dripping from his mouth.

"Marcus, please, please don't die on me. I'm very sorry for not trusting you, please." I said, holding on to him as if it could keep him alive.

"S-Saint, I need to t-tell you something." He coughed out more blood, holding on to my injured arm. I didn't feel the pain, it was numb as I watched Marcus struggle to breathe through the blood. 

"Don't talk Marcus, I-I can hear people coming, you'll be-"

"Saint, listen t-to me. Ava isn't a-alone in this. Someone is helping her and their real t-target is the alpha but they want to get to him through you." He coughed as he tried to gather air.

"What? W-Who are they?" I asked, my voice shaky.

"I-it's-" he coughed again choking out more blood. Marcus hands fell from my injured arm, going limp.