The dawn air was chilling and the promise of snow hung heavy in the air. Kyle hoped that it wouldn't start snowing until Robyn and Anastasia had returned. He didn't want anything to even slightly slow them down, and snow would make the roads more dangerous.

As they had discussed late last night, Robyn knew of a goblin tribe that operated on the outskirts of the big city in the next county over. It was about five hours away by car and even though the tank was full they would still need to pass through the human checkpoint.

The government called them tollgates but they were nothing more than a method to control and segregate non-humans. The human officers who ran the tollgates were always heavily armed with a wide assortment of weaponry. They rarely had any need to use them, as most non-humans knew better than to start trouble where they would be completely overpowered.

Kyle hated that they needed to use anything related to humankind, but the highway was the quickest way to the goblin tribe and he would have to trust that his packmates would remember all their safety procedures to avoid a conflict with the humans. He double checked that they both had their entry pass and species identification card.

The entry pass allowed non-humans short term entry into major cities during daytime hours. Non-humans were required by law to always carry both the entry pass and species identification card whenever they travelled within human territory or when moving between counties. Failure to have either would result in their immediate detainment. And non-humans never made it out of detainment alive.

“What's the first rule of travel?” Kyle asked them as he handed the car keys to Robyn.

She was in a black button down shirt over ash grey jeans and her black leather boots, her hair was tied up and hidden under a thick beanie along with her horns. Although Robyn hiding her hair and horns wouldn't mask her goblin origins, not seeing her horns might make the humans feel more at ease around her. Anastasia wore another one of her thick woollen dresses, this one a pastel green that made her seem friendlier, another ploy to not provoke the humans.

“Humans are always right.” Robyn said, with a scornful smile.

“And the second rule?” He asked.

“Humans are always right.” She answered.

Kyle nodded, satisfied, and as much as he hated bending to the will of humans, the easiest way to get through any situation was to just abide by the rules of human society. He was especially worried about Robyn, because humans had an extreme fear for goblins. 

Their large stature and overwhelming strength made them especially intimidating, and Kyle was relieved that Robyn was shorter and smaller than full blooded goblins. She was still quite tall, nearly as tall as him, but nowhere near as large as the average goblin that grew to about tree length.

Anastasia on the other hand, as a werewitch, would be warmly welcomed in the human cities. Humans and their hatred for non-humans, couldn't contend with their fascination and hunger for the magic and potions of witches. 

They craved the power and thrill that magic provided and would pay anything to get their hands on it. It was because of this that Anastasia packed a few potions into her backpack. If anyone gave Robyn any trouble for being part goblin, they might prove helpful as a bribe or distraction.

After a quick round of goodbyes, Robyn started the engine and they drove off just as the sun crossed the horizon.

The sun had set two hours ago and Kyle was getting antsy. They still had not returned.

He tried to calm himself down and reasoned that there could be multiple small matters that had delayed them. They could have had car troubles and had to stop somewhere in the city to get it fixed, Kyle thought to himself. Even as he slowly listed off multiple reasons that would have them running late Kyle couldn't stop the fear creeping up on him. He took off the blue hoodie he was wearing, leaving just the black tank top on, as he felt himself break into a sweat.

Fear and instincts keep us alive, a voice in his head seemed to mock him as Kyle felt his blood go cold.

Kyle stood up, and called the pack into the kitchen. Slowly they all walked in, and as he was taking note of his packmates he noticed someone was missing.

“Where is Steven?” Kyle asked Devon, as the werefox sat down on the countertop.

“I haven't seen him since last night,” Devon said, shrugging his shoulders enclosed in a soft baby pink sweatshirt.

Kyle frowned but didn't press the issue, he pushed down the fear that Steven had gone to see that guy. He had to remind himself that they had broken up. Kyle tried to convince himself that it didn't matter, and could barely hold back from storming out of the house in search of Steven. 

Instead he turned to Katie, who had taken over Josie and Annie's care with instructions from Robyn. Let's just focus on this first, he told himself as his heart twisted painfully in his chest. He felt like he could barely breathe as the wound of betrayal was freshly pried open by Steven's absence.

“How are the pups?” Kyle asked Katie.

“I don't know,” She answered, wringing her hands around the hem of her black long sleeved shirt.

“Robyn said I should make sure they're breathing, and told me what to do to break their fever, but I don't think the pups are getting any better.” Katie continued, her voice shaky.

Katie stared at him, her blue eyes wide with fear and Kyle was reminded that she was only eighteen years old. She was five years younger than him, but in that moment she seemed so much younger.

They're all so young, Kyle reminded himself.

Besides himself the only full grown wolves were Robyn and Steven who were twenty one and twenty respectively. With Anastasia and Gareth at nineteen, Devon at seventeen, the twins at nine, and Benny at five, the pack was much younger and smaller than the average werewolf pack. They just barely had enough full grown werewolves necessary to protect the pack. With Robyn and Anastasia missing, the pack was just that much more vulnerable.

“Okay, just keep doing what she told you to do.” Kyle said.

“It's been some time since Robyn and Anastasia should have returned,” He said, speaking to his gathered packmates, “Even accounting for any small delays they should have arrived three hours ago.”

The pack was on edge as they waited, sensing what was coming. Katie moved closer to Devon and reached down to grab his hand. The werefox tightly held her hand as he clenched his jaw, his full lips pressed tightly together as he felt his fear spike.

“Gareth I am leaving you in charge,” Kyle said, looking at the huge redhead who stood quietly by the kitchen door.

“What? What are you saying?” Gareth asked, confusion and fear dancing across his freckled face.

“I am going after them,” Kyle said.

“Alone.”

And for the second time in as many days chaos erupted.