📎A/N. Hello my lovelies! Another weekend is almost at an end.. we are now into September... and another month closer to Christmas... Good grief, I've only just gotten over the last one :(

Grab a coffee and some donuts or cake and settle back. Lot's happening today and is a little long-ish.

Don't forget to vote if you enjoy the chapter.

Take care

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"What do you think's going on?" Parker asked Alice after yet another person raced past the infirmary.

In the space of thirty minutes, Parker had lost count of the number of pack members who had powered passed them, congregated in small groups, and then disbanded just as quickly.

Alice, the pack's doctor, watched as the process repeated itself. "I'm not sure. They're too far away for me to hear."

When the next man in steel-toed work boots, hard hat, and high-viz shirt shot passed, Parker was certain something was wrong. "The Bridgeport construction project. So far, most of them are from that site." She turned back to Alice and sent out a silent prayer. "I need to go, there's been an accident."

The corner of Alice's mouth dropped into a frown, and she crossed her arms over her chest. "Did you hear my phone ring? No? Neither did I. The amount of time's we have gone through the drills, you'd think they'd learn. But oh no, let's just surprise the doctor and front up with a bunch of broken and bleeding Werewolves and expect her to be prepared."

"Alice—"

Alice, a stickler for the rules, continued on her tirade. "Just wait until I get my hands on that foreman he'll be the one—"

"Alice," Parker said more loudly, "calm down. We don't know what's happened yet. I'll find out and let you know. Until then, you know what to do."

The air deflated from Alice, and she placed her head in her hands and groaned. "Sorry, I didn't mean to go off the deep end like that, but I'm so tired of losing patients because I'm not prepared."

Parker reached out and rubbed a soothing hand up and down her friend's arm. Once the devastation of Wildfire outbreak had died down, Alice had blamed herself for the high casualty rate. As a doctor, she had taken an oath to do no harm; to save and cure the sick; to heal the injured and ease suffering. The death that occurred during her watch had affected her more than anyone could have predicted.

"There's nothing more you could have done. The CDC could only stand by and watch. How do you think you could have saved them when the people trained to do that couldn't?" said Parker. "You need to stop blaming yourself, and spending every waking hour working or studying is not going to help anyone. Elise and that madman are responsible. Never forget that."

Alice tucked her hands into the pockets of her white coat and stared at the ground. "You know I still have nightmares about watching them die. Only in my dreams, it's Dominic whose body is eating him from the inside. It's gotten so bad I'm too afraid to sleep?"

"Have you spoken to him about it?"

Alice looked up and shook her head. Her eyes no longer held the twinkle and zest for life that Parker was used to. They were sunken and hollow, dulled with each life she watched slip away. The stress of her self-imposed silence had etched fine wrinkles into her forehead with the perpetual frown that was her constant companion.

Parker, saddened by the tortured soul of her friend, threw her arms around Alice and willed her to see sense. "Oh hon, you can't keep this from him. It'll be eating him up from the inside."

Alice pulled away and looked off into the distance. Her eyes blinked rapidly to clear the glassy coat of tears that threatened to spill. "I know I should." She let out a sigh and closed her eyes. "He's got enough on his plate, and I didn't want to burden him further."

"He's your mate. If there's anything I've learned through all this, is if you're in pain, he will be too. You have to talk to him about this."

A tissue appeared, and Alice blew her nose. "I know."

Parker placed her hands on her hips. "Make sure you do. I don't want to have to give you an Alpha command, but I will if I have to."

Alice giggled and brushed away a tear that had escaped. "You must know by now, every request you make is an Alpha command.

"Don't remind me." Parker grimaced. "I'm still trying to work out what I'm going to do with all that Maple Syrup."

"Next time, don't tell a Canadian trainee, that when he returns to Nederland he needs to bring you a bottle.

Parker laughed. "I was only making conversation with him, I didn't mean for him to actually take me seriously. Can you imagine what the shipping on all those boxes would have cost?" Parker paused and studied her friend. "Are you going to be alright?"

Alice nodded, and a faint smile crossed her lips. "I'll be fine, just go and see what's happened."

"Let me know if there's any change," said Parker as she headed back down the steps.

Alice waved and headed into the building that served as the pack's infirmary.

As Parker made her way up the valley, her thoughts drifted back to her friend. They had already suspected the reason for her sudden neurotic need for order. As it was, Alice spent every waking moment she wasn't tending to a broken bone or injury, studying every medical journal and paper on diseases she could lay her hands on.

The arrival of her new patient would have cut her fragile state even close to the edge.

The team had found Murphy alive—barely. Unable to do much for him in the middle of nowhere, Alice made the decision to risk transporting him back to Colorado. By the time they set him up in the infirmary his breath was shallow and his pulse thready at best. Parker didn't need the doctor to tell them the prognosis. They could read it on her face.

Just as she reached the compound, Parker spotted Daniel deep in conversation with one of the returning construction crew. Not wishing to interrupt she pretended to check her phone.

Once they were through, Parker headed towards Daniel. His predatory expression as she approached reminded her of what prowled behind the face he showed to the outside world. While outwardly he reflected the astute businessman, she knew the dual nature that lurked just beneath the surface. And right now the animal in him wanted out.

"How serious was the accident?" Parker asked. With Daniel's wolf so close to the surface, she could feel the raw power that wanted to lash out to protect it's own.

As soon as she was at arm's length, Daniel reached out and pulled her closer. She now found herself flush against his side as he bent down, kissed the top of her head and breathed her in. Something he tended to do when conflicted. "What accident?"

Parker glanced towards the retreating back of the high-viz jacket. "The Bridgeport crew have arrived back all looking pretty shaken. I assumed something had happened."

Daniel's attention was momentarily distracted by an SUV that had just entered through the main gates. "An unconfirmed rumour has them all spooked, and it doesn't help it's circulating throughout all the packs. How's Murphy? Any change?"

"No, he's still holding on, alternating between comatose and high fevers. Alice had to strap him down at one point for his own safety. Every now and then he cries out, but his voice is too raspy and broken to understand. The only thing she can make out is him repeating the words 'where is she?'." Parker took a breath and paused. It hadn't sat well with her Daniel had refused to notify his parents. "Don't you think it about time you let his family know? They have a right to say goodbye."

Daniel stiffened. "We have already been over this. There is bad blood between them, and I will not disrespect his wishes. They haven't spoken in twenty years; what good will it do him now?"

Parker pulled away and glared up at Daniel. "Peace. It will give them all peace; don't you see that?"

"I said no," Daniel growled, "and that's my final word on the matter. Are we clear on that? Right now we have more important matters to worry about."

"Well, that's not my final word, not by a long shot." Parker clenched her fists and raised her voice. "Not everything is as cut and dry as you'd like to think."

A low growl erupted from somewhere deep in Daniel's chest as he grabbed her by the arm and narrowed his eyes. "And not everything is—" Daniel's words died on his lips as he glanced towards the carpark. An instant later, he let her go and stood to his full height. "We will discuss this later," he said under his breath.

Parker turned to follow the direction in which his attention was now focused. Jo, Daniel's only female beta, and her team were headed towards them. For now, she'd let the matter rest. Jo's account of what they found in Camden was more important. It may help them understand what, or who, had attacked Murphy.

Jo dismissed the others and made her way towards them. She stopped in front of Daniel and nodded once. "Alpha."

"You made good timing," said Daniel "I wasn't expecting you back for a while."

Jo shrugged. "The roads were clear so we had a good run." The beta hesitated, and her eyes darted towards the valley. "We heard on the radio about the deaths in Rush Creek. Is it true what they are saying?"

"At this stage, it's an unconfirmed rumour. The pack in Illinois is sending a team to investigate," answered Daniel. From his dismissive tone, the message was loud and clear. He took no stock in hearsay.

The Beta didn't appear any less worried, which only served to make Parker concerned at this rumour Daniel had brushed aside. "Can someone please explain what has the entire pack in such an uproar?"

Jo shifted uncomfortably on the spot. Parker deciding that the beta was not going to be forthcoming, turned to Daniel and raised an eyebrow. "I'm waiting."

At first, she thought he wasn't going to respond. "There's a story that broke this morning on one of the local channels in Wisconsin regarding another coyote attack," Daniel said, breaking the silence. "It's since made headline news around the country. This time, lives were lost; nine people, including three children, were mauled to death."

Parker brought her hand up to cover her mouth. Hearing adults had died was tragic enough, but children?

The ever increasing coyote population in Wisconsin and Illinois wasn't news. Attacks on pets and their owners occurred on a regular basis. The problem was no one could agree on a strategy for dealing with the issue.

Something about the story wasn't making sense. "Why would a coyote attack worry everyone," she asked.

"It wouldn't. But the massacre of an entire pack does concern us." Daniel looked pointedly at Jo. "Which, by the way, is unconfirmed; and until we know for sure, we should not be spreading panic."

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! No wonder everyone is freaked out.

"You think the people killed were Werewolves?"

When the muscle in Daniel's jaw tensed, she had her answer. "About fifteen years ago, a pack managed to escape the political turmoil in Ethiopia and made their way to the States. Had we known about their plight, we would have stepped in and helped them leave the country long before it was almost too late. Somehow they managed to find their way to one of the packs on the eastern seaboard, and the Alliance found them a place they could settle. They were located in Rush Creek because of the proximity to the coyotes."

"Why? Why did it matter they were close to coyotes?"

"There are no grey wolves in Africa. Ethiopia, however, has the African golden wolf which is related to the grey; they are smaller and can be mistaken for coyotes. In Wisconsin, they could blend into the surroundings without raising suspicion."

The reason for the panic wasn't lost on Parker. "If the bodies turn out to belong to the pack, there was no way they were attacked by coyotes were they?" Or human, she finished silently.

Daniel's granite features gave nothing away. "Until we know for sure, there is no point for speculation." He turned to Jo. "What did you find?"

"The area we found Murphy in was an abandoned paint factory. No matter how much we tried, the chemicals were too strong for the trackers to distinguish one scent from the other. Once we had searched the inside of the building, we made our way around the outside. Whatever happened, happened around the back; it looked like a war zone—and a fresh one at that."

Jo pulled out her phone, scrolled to the photos folder and held it out for them to see. "Whatever attacked Murphy was big."

Parker squinted at the image. All she could see was dirt. "What are we looking at?" she asked.

"There's an imprint of Murphy's attacker on the ground," Daniel said as he reached for the phone and flipped through the images. "and it looks like he rolled away before Murphy could strike a blow."

Daniel stopped at a photo taken of a section of the concrete wall and zoomed in. "This can't be right. That damage would require at least 6000 psi, and even then, only with a diamond cutting blade."

This time, Parker could see what he was referring to. Claw marks were etched into the concrete wall.

"We found the same claw marks all over the fight zone. This thing had talons, and the power behind it to cut through anything. How Murphy got out of there alive and in one piece is a mystery," said Jo.

"What else did you find," asked Daniel handing her back the phone.

"It's what we didn't find that concerned us. Just beyond the perimeter, we found the remains of a decent sized calf. Its throat had been slashed. Based on our calculations it was a fresh kill around the time of the fight. Murphy must have interrupted it, and it attacked. You'd think that once it had left Murphy, it would return to its kill. However, it appeared to have abandoned it.

At that point, we increased the perimeter and found that as the scent from the factory dulled, we could finally distinguish 'it' from the chemicals. We followed its path for about three miles. If something got in its way, it just ploughed through it. Cattle, fences, farming equipment. The thing had no concept of going around something. It was running, and running fast." Jo paused and collected her thoughts. She let out a breath and said, "At the three-mile mark, things turned strange."

Parker balked. Things weren't already strange enough?

"In the middle of a field with nothing to stop its path, it suddenly began to zig-zag. There was no pattern that we could determine. We also found it kept on turning back and racing in the opposite direction. There was evidence that it had fallen but recovered quickly. That's when things entered the twilight zone. We found deep claw marks on the ground as if it were being pulled by its legs. Anyone would think a plough had started to turn the soil. After a short distance, it must have lost consciousness, the ploughing stopped, but the dragging didn't. Then nothing."

"What do you mean by nothing?" asked Daniel.

Jo scratched the back of her neck. "I mean it was there one minute and gone the next. It was like it disappeared into thin air."

"Was there any evidence of vehicles or people?"

"Nothing; and believe me we looked. Something spooked it, and the next thing—gone; vanished, and I have no idea how."

Daniel shrugged. "The how is easy, it's the who I want to know about."

"Don't leave us hanging," Parker complained.

"It was an air capture; probably two helicopters working in tandem. After it had been brought down and tranquilized, they airlifted the body. Quick, efficient, and effective. They knew what they were after and were prepared."

Jo frowned her original worried expression had returned. "But we still have the original questions; what exactly is 'It', and how is it that Murphy is still alive after going head to head with it?"

Daniel dismissed Jo, and they headed towards the house. Parker couldn't shake the realisation that they were chasing ghosts. There was a threat that had been let loose, and the Werewolves had no idea just how powerful it was or how to fight it.

"Murphy never mentioned anything to you? He must have had some clues after chasing it across Nebraska," asked Parker as they reached the house.

Daniel shook his head. "Not a word, but that's not unusual. He'd never provide intelligence if he weren't one-hundred percent sure." He shrugged. "If he had a theory, he never mentioned it."

Parker slowed her pace. "But he may have to his partner."

"I'm not following."

"From my stint in the F.B.I. the agents were incredibly thick with their partners. They needed to be, their lives often rested in each other's hands. Maybe Murphy shared his theories with Kaitlyn? She's one of the few people he could talk to about something like this."

"I can't see why he would, they were no longer working together," said Daniel as his brows knitted together.

Parker pulled out her phone. "It doesn't mean he didn't, and at this point, we need to try everything."

"What are you doing?"

Parker held up a finger as Kaitlyn answered the phone.

"Parker, I wasn't expecting to hear from you."

Parker pushed a button and held the phone out. Daniel's face was stormy as he glared at her.

"Kaitlyn, I have Daniel here, you're on speaker."

There was a pause before Kaitlyn's voice turned cautious and she asked, "What can I do for you?"

"When was the last time you heard from Murphy?" Parker cringed, she hoped Kaitlyn wouldn't see through her fake light tone.

Kaitlyn's side of the phone went quiet, and Parker glanced at Daniel. While he was livid about her not warning him of her actions he wasn't in a position to argue about it.

"About three days ago. Why?"

Parker scrunched her nose. Damn, she's getting suspicious.

"We were just wondering if Murphy shared any details of his trip with you?"

"There's been some reports of strange animal attacks coming out of Nebraska and he's following a few leads. He couldn't pick up much from the first couple of towns but was sure there was something behind the ones in Camden."

Parker could feel Daniel's eyes snap to her. She was right, he had spoken to Kaitlyn about it.

"Was he aware of what it looked like? It's abilities or weaknesses?" Daniel asked, his tone was clipped and demanding.

"Shouldn't you be asking Murphy this?" Kaitlyn paused. "What's this all about? Where is Murphy?"

Parker closed her eyes and considered the options. She could lie and see how much information they could gather, or she could tell the truth, and hope like hell Kaitlyn would share what she knew.

In the end, there was only one option. "Kaitlyn, Murphy was attacked two days ago. He's in a pretty bad state, the doctor's not sure if he'll pull through. We're trying to work out how to help him, but we have no idea what he was attacked by."

"Where is he?" Kaitlyn demanded.

"He's been tended to by the pack's doctor. She's making him as comfortable as she can under the circumstances."

"I mean, what City and State?" snapped Kaitlyn.

"Nederland, Colorado."

"Text me the address. I'm on the next available flight."

The screen flashed and Parker stared at it. Kaitlyn had hung up.

She raised her eyebrows and glanced at Daniel. "I guess we're about to get a visitor."

***

"I still don't know why she's coming," Daniel grumbled.

Parker leant down and wrapped her arms over his shoulder and around his neck. She nipped him on his ear and said, "Stop being a big baby and get over it. You're lucky she couldn't get the last flight out yesterday."

A moment later she let out a squeal as Daniel reached behind her and pulled her over the back of the couch and onto his lap. "I'll 'get over it' once you stop defying me. Did I not make it clear to not involve her?"

Parker pushed at the arms that held her in a vice-like grip in an attempt to break free. "Actually, you didn't..." she grinned mischievously at him. "Not in so many words. Besides, if he can't have his family around him, at least he won't be surrounded by strangers."

Daniel's eyes narrowed. "So that was the real reason you jumped at the chance to contact her. You know she's not going to be able to do anything more for him than we can."

Parker smile flew from her face, and she ceased her struggle. She hated to see anyone in pain and right now, Murphy was suffering more than anyone should be allowed to. "I just couldn't stand by and let him drift away without someone he loves or knows seeing him off."

Daniel cocked his head and let out a deep sigh. "Just when I think I couldn't possibly love you anymore, you once again prove me wrong."

Parker was overwhelmed by the depth of emotion reflected in his deep green irises. She was caught, unable to look away as they bore into her, leaving a trail of desire, weakness, need, longing, warmth, love, hunger the list went on. Every emotion that she could see through his eyes slammed into her like a tornado. Parker wasn't sure she could withstand the intensity of it without crumbling under the pressure.

"You have no idea just how much you affect me," he whispered as he pulled her to him and sealed her lips with a punishing kiss that made her toes curl.

Parker could feel Daniel's reluctance as he pulled away. It almost matched her own.

"They've turned off the main road," he whispered into her neck.

Parker steadied herself as he let her go. "Why do we always seem to get interrupted?"

As they headed down to the compound, the car Daniel had sent to the airport pulled into the pack carpark. Before the driver had a chance to exit, the passenger was out and striding across towards them.

Oh my God! She's an Amazon!

While Parker had spoken to Kaitlyn over the weeks she and Murphy were tracking down Elijah, she'd not realised just how tall the F.B.I agent was. The jeans and boots only served to make her look that much taller.

"Mr. Locke," said Kaitlyn by way of greeting as she held her hand out to Daniel.

Without skipping a beat, Daniel took the offered hand and gave her a curt nod. "Agent Quinn."

Parker had to give the woman credit. She had no trouble looking Daniel in the eye. A task most people found daunting. For his part, Daniel appeared to be caught off guard. Kaitlyn's terse expression didn't bode well, and Parker suspected that they may not like what she had to say.

Deciding she needed to take the matter into her own hands, Parker stepped forward. "Kaitlyn, despite the circumstances, it's lovely to finally meet you."

When Kaitlyn turned to her and replied, "You too," Parker detected a strain in her voice. It wasn't anything obvious. Her expression gave nothing away. It was neither happy nor sad, instead, it was stuck in neutral.

Kaitlyn glanced around the compound. "Where is he?"

"Murphy is in the infirmary," Parker said pointing in the direction of the small building in the valley below. "We'll get you settled, then take you down to see him."

"No," Kaitlyn said a little too sharply. She thrust a pile of manila folders, which she had been holding, into Parker's hands. "You will take me to him, now."

With that, she spun on her heels and marched towards the edge of the compound and the path that led to the valley below.

Parker, not sure of what to make of Kaitlyn's odd behaviour, turned to Daniel.

Daniel shrugged. "Don't look at me. You invited her."

As they raced to catch up, Parker juggled the folders and took a peek inside. When she realised what it contained she stopped short. "Shit!" she hissed through her teeth.

"What is it?"

"I was right. She was working the case with him. It looks like it's everything Murphy managed to find."

"There's more on my laptop," Kaitlyn said as they caught up with her. "And includes the other sightings and attacks."

They made the distance to the infirmary in record time. While Daniel had no trouble matching Kaitlyn's stride, Parker had to almost run to keep up.

Alice, who had seen their approach, met them at the door. "He's running another temperature and his pulse is through the roof. I'm not sure it's a good time for you to see him."

Kaitlyn brushed past the doctor as soon as the introductions were over, leaving Alice just as confused as the others.

"What just happened?" asked Alice as she stared at the door.

Parker shook her head. This was not the Kaitlyn she knew. "I'm as stumped as you. She's always been headstrong, but never anything like this."

"She'd hiding something; I don't like it," Daniel said.

Parker rolled her eyes. "You're just a bit iffy she told you there's a blind spot at the gates."

"I am not, and there isn't," said Daniel as he crossed his arms over his chest. He turned to Alice. "Could you read her?"

Alice considered the question then her eyebrows shot up. "No, you're right, I couldn't. Her scent is there, but she's shielding."

Daniel headed up the stairs. "I'm not sure we can trust her. She's not to be left alone, for all we know she's here to finish the job the others started."

"I think you're a little melodramatic, don't you think?" said Parker as she raced behind Daniel to stop him doing anything he would regret later.

The moment they entered Murphy's room, they knew something had changed. Parker had been witness to Murphy's delirious state, and right now he was anything but. Kaitlyn sat on the bed gripping his hand with one of hers and resting her other hand against his chest.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Daniel was right, she's killed him.

Alice raced over to the bed and checked the monitors. Her expression grew confused as she placed a hand on his forehead and then took his pulse. "His temperature is dropping and so is his heart rate."

After rechecking the equipment, Alice stared at Kaitlyn for a moment or two before visibly relaxing. She reached across and placed a gentle hand on Kaitlyn's arm. "Would you like me to get you a chair, it might be more comfortable?"

Kaitlyn shook her head and looked up. "No thank you, I'll be fine like this." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Even when he went up against Elijah and the others, the damage was nothing like this. Just how bad is it?"

Kaitlyn's back was to her, but Parker didn't need to see her face to understand the effort it took her to keep herself together.

Alice gave Kaitlyn an encouraging smile. "He's due another morphine dose. I'll just grab it and be right back, we can then cover any questions you have. How does that sound?"

Kaitlyn nodded and turned back to Murphy. As Alice headed towards them, Kaitlyn leaned down and put her cheek to his. Parker couldn't be sure, but it looked like Kaitlyn whispered in his ear.

Alice indicated to Daniel and Parker to follow her. Once she had closed the door and they were standing in the outer room, Alice turned back to them. "I don't know what's going on, his pulse was three hundred and his temperature double what we consider safe. He's now within tolerable levels."

"She was in there with him less than five minutes. Could she have given him some sort of drug?" Daniel asked.

"No," Alice said shaking her head. "The woman is scary, but she means him no harm."

Daniel let out a wry laugh. "No wonder they got on so well."

Parker glared at Daniel and swiped him on the arm. "That was uncalled for. I told you, she's not normally like this."

"Just keep your eye on her," he told Alice as he pulled the files from Parker's arms and headed towards the door. "We've got some paperwork to sift through."

Parker was about to head out when she changed her mind. "I'll catch up with you," she said.

Once Daniel had left she turned back to Alice. "She whispered something to Murphy, I know you heard it."

Alice bit her bottom lip and frowned. "It didn't make sense. Something about not leaving her alone with a bunch of immigrants."

Parker tiptoed to look through the small glass window that looked into Murphy's room. Kaitlyn was still perched on the bed. "I think there is something we are all missing."

"I would have to agree," Alice said. She nodded towards the closed door. "That woman in there, as abrupt as she may seem, is breaking into tiny pieces. That, I have no doubt."

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📎A/N. Wow! That was a little intense. 

... Something tells me that there is one less pack... we will just need to wait and see what they find. 

And I wonder who captured the creature that attacked Murphy... poor Murphy... It doesn't sound like he's doing well :-( 

From the sounds of it, Kaitlyn is doing her best to hold it together while being surrounded by immigrants and seeing Murphy in such a terrible condition can't possibly be helping. I hope he pulls through!

Don't forget to vote, and all comments welcome and appreciated.

Till next weekend, take care.

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