Merissa turned to the door as it opened, then became worried when she saw Lyla's expression. It was a mixture of grim and angry. Ris didn't know which was more concerning.

"What's wrong?"

Lyla moved to the lounge quickly, lowering to the seat next to Merissa. Adley wasn't here, already out for his nightly run around the grounds.

"I overheard Charlton talking to someone," she whispered gently in her ear. "It worried me, so I followed them and another vampire into the next room. They're killing turned vampires and pinning it on humans."

"Are you serious?" she hissed.

Lyla frowned, pulling Ris back in.

"There's more," she offered before leaning in again. "They're going to take out werewolves when all the turned are dead, and we're going to be dead by the next full moon."

"Why then, why not now?"

"They want Lennon more settled, angrier at us. They're going to pretend that we walked out of here and then give him a lie a few days later."

"Bastards." she growled.

"It explains why he's so against Gamichee. All those turned vampires running around his town must really grate against Charlton."

"Yeah."

Lyla thought about Gamichee and everything that he'd said about the other territories and their leaders. His warning about the leaders being unwelcoming was not accurate. The words left a bitter taste in Lyla's mouth. Gamichee should have been more forthcoming with the information. Maybe then they wouldn't have stupidly walked into this place.

It seemed so perfect. He offered them so much, and for the most part, Charlton delivered. In their first night in this place, Charlton explained that Lennon was a descendant of the original vampires, not the created vampires that had flooded this land. It was the reason that he had two fangs rather than the four that everyone else had. He was a proficient killer and didn't need to butcher his victims with four fangs like the other vampires.

Lyla could see the truth now. The way that Charlton spoke that night, it gave his true thoughts away. If she'd paid attention, Lyla would have heard the words that he really spoke. Flooded this land. Didn't need to butcher his victims.

Letting it go, even if it was only temporary, was ideal. Lyla knew that she had to focus. Otherwise, mistakes would be made.

"Did you have a good run tonight?"

The werewolf had dirt on his face and a leaf in his hair. Merissa scoffed, pulling the leaf out and then wetting her thumb. Adley tried to move away from the impending saliva soaked cleaning, but he wasn't fast enough.

"You know it always is."

Adley's search for a way out of the estate was going well. He now knew that there was only one way, and that was through the gate. Ris rolled her eyes and turned to Lyla.

"You really need to develop those skills. The main gate is the only option. Guarded, but if they drive hard enough, they'd be able to ram them."

"Are you sure?"

Adley responded.

"Yeah, he's sure." Merissa huffed, a little amused. "Said he was out there talking to the guards for a few minutes, pretending to be all friendly while holding the gate, not really checking how sturdy it was."

Lyla smiled at the werewolf. He offered a cheesy grin in response.

She'd have to send Oscar a message, telling him what Adley had found. They couldn't use the car that they'd arrived in. It was gone along with the files that they'd brought here. As for Aneska, if Charlton could be believed, she was under a lot of concrete somewhere in this property. Lyla didn't believe it, and she knew that the containment chamber was probably with the files.

Pulling out her phone, Lyla sent Oscar the details and waited for his response. It was positive. He'd already assumed that forced entry would be needed, and they'd borrowed a rather expensive piece of machinery to help. The gate was not going to withstand a blow from this vehicle.

"Did you find anything else that was interesting, Adley?"

Adley grunted. Lyla frowned for a second.

"Yes?"

The werewolf nodded with a warm smile. Lyla liked that she was getting better at understanding Adley. It was a long road to comprehending what he said, but she was getting there. The dumb brain was evolving.

"Come and sit with me on the lounge."

Lyla flicked her head to the seat, urging Adley to sit down. Before he joined the lovely ladies on the lounge, Adley pulled a bag in from the balcony. As he sat on the lounge, the mischievous werewolf dumped one of two bags onto the coffee table. He opened it to reveal a cache of weapons. Lyla's fingers skated over the semi-automatic pistol, then moved onto the handguns.

"Oscar is a legend, isn't he?" she whispered.

Adley nodded, a little surprised at what had been left for them. Reaching into his pocket, Adley pulled out the note and held it out. Filled with trepidation, Lyla took the note.

Blue,

Shipment as requested. Signal when ready. Operation Alpha Dog is in place.

Oz.

She looked at the flare gun and wondered if she wanted to involve Oscar in this. Knowing him, he would have formed a team of the best that he could get on such short notice. It was also guaranteed that Diego would be out there waiting too. She sighed, screwed up the note and tossed it into the fire.

"Well?"

"They're ready to go. All we need to do is give them the signal, and they'll be here. Gear on, then load up."

Adley pulled out the bag from under the table, opened it up to reveal the clothes that Lyla had asked for. Lightweight, black to hide and bullet resistant. Sitting on the top was the lightweight clothing. Three sets of shirts and pants, boots and headgear. Underneath was the body armour. By the time Lyla was dressed, she thought that she'd taken a step into the past.

Their old clothes and possessions were dumped into the bag. Adley took the flare gun and loaded it. Lyla ran them through the basic information for the guns that they had. When they were ready, Adley walked to the balcony ledge and dropped the bag to the ground. Lifting his arm up, the flare was shot up into the sky. He watched and waited, ensuring that it went off as it should, then returned to the house.

"Right, move fast, keep it simple. Adley, you grab Lennon, and we're out of here. Alpha Dog is a fast moving operation, and they will be here before we know it. Let's go."

Moving to the door, Lyla unlocked it and moved out into the corridor. Slipping into the shadows, she moved with stealth. With the duo hot on her heels, Lyla lifted herself onto the rail, ready to jump.