Blake's POV:

A small fire was all I found, surrounded by thick, low-hanging branches. The air was thinner than I would have liked, making my breath shallow. "Hello?" I called out, careful to keep my voice low. I walked closer to the fire until the heat forced me back. I turned around so I could see the shadows cast by the fire. Always face the shadows, Dakota had taught me. Not everybody in this world is honorable. Your enemies will come when you aren't looking their way. I jumped as I felt a breath on my neck. Two cold hands slipped around my waist, and I stiffened. Where's her shadow?

Her soft lips brushed against my ear. "I knew you would come," she crooned with a lilting, honeyed voice. My heart beat faster as she turned me around, forcing me to face her with wide eyes. She smirked, placing her palm over my chest. "Aw, I make you nervous! Someone likes me." The girl looked exactly as I remembered her, with her ridiculous black cape and layers of makeup. The blood was gone, and any traces of the smell was washed out with the scent of strawberries. Her hair was in a messy bun, the loose strands flying in the numbing wind.

"I didn't come for you," I said sternly, before I could remind myself to be subtle.

"Really? Then why did you come, Blake?" Her spidery fingers moved along my spine, and I found myself moving into a sitting position. She sat down beside me, staring me in the eyes the entire time. I tried to look away, but her eyes were mesmerizing. She put a hand on my thigh and leaned closer to me. I could feel my heart pounding harder, and I could feel her breath on my lips. Too late, I realized what she was trying to do.

"I-- I can't do this. Alys--" I fell silent as she placed her lips on mine. At first, I was too dazed to do anything, and I let her kiss me, a warm and passionate kiss. After a full minute had passed, I pulled away, looking at her closely.

"Why are you so resistant?" she pouted. "It's not like Alyssa would ever find out. She's a stupid human."

I scoffed. Her eyes didn't seem as beautiful now. "She is not a 'stupid human.' She's my girlfriend."

"Is that so?"

"Yes!" I exclaimed, rolling my eyes.

The girl's eyes glinted mischievously, and suddenly I found myself hypnotized by them again. "Well," she said." "I'd best be on my way, then."She turned away from me and got up.

"Wait, please." I got up and grabbed her hand. It would have been a waste to come without finding out anything about her. "Please, can you answer some of my questions?"

She let my hand go, and a smirk formed on her face. "If I answer these questions of yours, then you have to do something for me."

I'm not falling for that! I thought. Nevertheless, I heard myself say, "Fine." I inhaled, realizing it was too late to take back my word. I might as well find out what I could. "What's your name?"

"Maddie."

I nodded and prepared myself for the next question. "Why did you kill my father?"

"Now, Blake, you know the answer. It's not my fault he's dead. It was your precious girlfriend. I came to your camp to kill her, but your father got in my way."

I was speechless, but more curious than anything. "Why do you want Alyssa gone?"

"Only because--" She was interrupted by the rustling of a nearby bush. We both stood up and whirled around. To my surprise, Alyssa rushed out with a knife in her right hand. Even more surprisingly, she had Maddie pinned against a tree.

"Blake!" she panted. "I found you."

I blinked. "What the hell are you doing here?" I hissed. "I'm getting information!"

Maddie shoved Alyssa's arm away and ran away before either of us could react.

"What were you doing?" I demanded. "How did you find me?" 

Alyssa shook her head. "You should have seen how far gone you were. I'll tell you more on the way back."

"She's trying to..." I stopped myself before I could say the fatal words kill you. "Never mind. It's not important. What's important was that she didn't kill me. "Let's go back to camp. We need to get Dakota and Dave."

I kicked some dirt at the fire. It went out quickly enough. Alyssa came over to me and hugged my side. "I know it's been rough, and I'm sorry. I didn't mean for anything to happen. Dave he... he has some news for you. Something that can help you."

I looked into her sad, tired eyes. "What kind of news?"

"It's a girl. She worked with them."

"Then we need to hurry." I looked at Alyssa with dread filling my heart. I didn't understand a thing she was saying. What did she mean when she told me how "far gone" I was? I shook my head, clearing these thoughts from my mind, and took her hand. Together, we ran through the forest.

"Dakota told me you were probably lying, but she told me it was to protect me. Right?"

I nodded. "I wouldn't have lied to you otherwise. It hurts that much. Can you tell me what you meant by 'far gone'?"

It was Alyssa's turn to nod. "Dave thinks you were under a love spell, and it looks like he was right. He and Dakota are baffled, though. Apparently love spells are a vampire thing."

"That's right. Werewolves can't mess with matters of the heart, except for the mating ritual. It's nothing big," I assured her. "It just sets up telepathy and empathy links."

Alyssa fell silent at the mention of "mating," so we ran in silence the rest of the way. Soon enough, our tent came into view, and we rushed in.

Dakota and Dave were standing by the entrance. They didn't say anything as we entered.

"So..." I began. "I'm ready when you are."

Dakota reacted by shoving Dave to the ground, faceforward.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Alyssa and I shouted in unison.

"He knowingly consorted with an enemy," Dakota said. "It's my job to detain and interrogate any potential traitors."

I stammered, "Yeah, but this is Dave! You've known him for years!"

"I can't be sentimental with a traitor."

"You're being paranoid!"

"So I've been told."

I looked at Dave on the ground, hoping that he would say something in his defense, or at least make some clever quip. He was staring blankly at our feet, his green eyes fully alert and completely dejected.

"Dakota," Alyssa said, moving closer to Dave on the floor. "Leave Dave alone, please. He didn't do anything wrong. Nobody did anything wrong," she said as if trying to reassure herself.

At this, Dave began mumbling something. "I did, Alyssa. I'm sorry." He became even quieter, and all I could hear was "my fault."

Tears sprang into Alyssa's eyes, and she knelt down to whisper something to Dakota. It frustrated me not to know anything about what was going on.

Dakota nodded when she finished. "You have ten minutes," she told her. "Don't-- ah, nevermind." She looked down at Dave. "I'm going to have to restrain you." Dave nodded meekly.

In less than a minute, Dave was bound by his wrists to a leg of the coffee table. I noticed the candles were still burning. "Come on," Dakota said. "We need to pick something up from my tent, then we're coming right back."

I followed Dakota out of the tent. "What's going on?" I asked after a long moment. "What could've happened that would make you do this? It's only been one night, for gods' sake!"

"Look who's talking," she replied. "Conducting secret meetings with confirmed killers."

My face grew hot as the image of Maddie came into mind. "I did it for information."

"As did I."

I sighed. "Alright. At least tell me who the girl is, then. The one who got us into this situation?"

"Dave called her Rina. She was abandoned after everything went down in the dining hall. She was a member of the Red River Pack."

"The Red River Pack?" I repeated excitedly.

"Yes. He took her in and was planning on bringing her along while we infiltrated them. Alyssa   stayed behind to question him."

"You mean talk in secret. Just the two of them."

"I trust her in this situation."

"Her, and not Dave?"

"I'm rather adept at reading people. Alyssa is sincere enough."

"Alright. I won't try to argue. Can I ask, what are we trying to get?"

Dakota reached the entrance of her tent before I did, and emerged with a set of wooden instruments. Wordlessly, she handed me a drum, the hide over the top bound with leather.

My mouth moved silently until I could bring myself to speak. "You're not going to try to release them, are you?"

"I am."

"You really are insane!"

"I established those contracts for a reason," she stated. "We're waging a different kind of war. Be glad I'm able to take precautions."

"Is that where you're keeping Rina?"

Dakota nodded. "I never did want to do this. Trust me on that."c