Anastasia's P.O.V.

I breathed in deeply at Dad's announcement. I knew what our action plan entailed, Dad and I would spend sleepless nights talking about it. I sighed before heading to the kitchen where Emma had laid a spread of sandwiches and the coffee machine was working.

I could feel Luke's eyes on me as I prepared two cups of coffee and took enough sandwiches for the two of us. When neither of us spoke, I felt him sorting through my thoughts, trying to understand my emotions. I sighed as I blocked him out gently, something I had practised and perfected.

"It's better you hear everything during the meeting," I said softly. I could see the anger in his eyes as he took the plate from me. I hated blocking him out but there were just some things that needed to be said and not extracted from my brain.

When we headed back into Alpha Blackwell's office, the room was nearly full. My brothers, save Asher were here, Dad, Alpha's Blackwell, Emma and the head doctor from the hospital. Luke and I sat in the middle of the table, where we both be close to our respective packs.

"Okay, first matter at hand," Alpha Blackwell started. "How did these wolves get in?"

"Our trackers are saying they entered from a clearing in the north east," Damien stated. "Members of both packs are securing the perimeter as we speak."

"It's going to take more than patrols now," Dad mused. "I say we physically barricade the perimeter. I think Rowan has the right idea." He nodded in Rowan's direction. I showed the image Rowan had to Luke and he nodded.

"It's a wooden fence basically," Rowan explained, "with sharpened sticks. We'll make it high enough so wolves won't jump it and interlock it for strength."

"Good idea," Luke said, earning him a glare from his father. "I can have the woodworking class assist in the sharpening."

Alpha Blackwell nodded, "Very well." Anyone could tell that he disliked Luke in charge. It wasn't a hatred for Luke, it was just in his wolf's nature to be displeased about anyone who was in charge but himself.

"We're still going to need patrols," I added. My brothers murmured and nodded in agreement. "And we're going to be have to be strict about it. No more accepting excuses and tolerating delinquents. I swear to the Goddess, if I hear "Oh my wife wants me at home" one more time, I will show them the reality that if they don't it, they won't have a wife or a home to go to."

Dad nodded, "Agreed, it has been most of our pack attending the patrols which is unfair because both our packs are at danger." He looked at Alpha Blackwell briefly before continuing. "I also propose that we have sentries. There are areas that we won't be able to passively defend. It's going to take manpower to ensure that an incident like this will not happen again."

"Can adjustments be made to our warriors to allow this?" Emma asked.

"Of course," Nyal answered. "I can change the roster around taking everyone's preference into consideration but, of course, I can't please everyone."

"Don't worry about that," Axel grinned, "I'll make sure they're happy with it."

"Dr Yates, what can you tell us about these wolves?" Alpha Blackwell asked.

The tired doctor sighed, "I've never encountered any toxin or venom like this. While treating Ms Kenna, her stitches kept dissolving. Thankfully, Mr Richard was able to direct us in closing her wounds using skin staples. I was able to collect the fluid and I have a team analysing it as we speak. All I can tell you for now is that it has anti-healing properties which isn't new news given that Alpha Ashworth and Ms Anastasia have wounds that are not fully healed."

Luke's fingers drifted along my scratches, they were still a sickening shade of purple but I didn't really care. Dad rolled his shoulders back, not liking the reminder of his bite.

Nyal cleared his throat, "I asked Bryan and some others to retrieve the devices that claimed the lives of our intruders tonight. I, Rowan and some volunteers will analyse it and we can see what monster we're dealing with."

I didn't miss the looks exchanged between Damien, Dad and Alpha Blackwell. I tried to see what they were thinking about but Damien kept resolutely out of his mind. I huffed and my wolf came to the surface, not pleased with him at all.

"I believe it's time we stopped playing defense," Dad said clearly. "I would like to head a recon mission into Nightwalker territory."

This announcement was met with both support and protests. I ducked my head, trying to calm my agitated wolf who didn't like arguments. I felt Luke pull me closer, making me relax a little as the adultier adults battled it out.

"It's reckless," Alpha Blackwell stated.

"It's necessary," Damien argue.

"We're not ready to attack," Harvey argued from his corner of the room.

Nyal pulled up spreadsheets on his tablet. "Judging from everyone's performance," he said, showing off the graphs he created, "we are. The numbers don't lie."

"Listen," Dad said firmly, "this is how things started with our pack. One or two groups infiltrating our territory. It's going to get worse and I don't think you want to lose your home Jonathan. Let's nip it in the bud and attack at the roots."

All eyes were on Alpha Blackwell as he stared at the table. I could hear the gears in his head turning and his inner voices debating on his decisions. He sighed, "I agree, but only a small team, no more than seven should go."

"I'll go," Damien volunteered. "Dad's scent is too noticeable to be sneaky."

"I'm going as well," Nyal said softly. I looked at him incredulously. Nyal was always our man with the plan working behind the scenes with the strategies. Now that he joined the fray, things were going to get bloody.

"I don't think anyone expected me to stay here," Axel grinned.

"I'll tag along," Harvey stated.

"And so will we," Luke and I chorused in unison.

I looked at Dad and I growled when he exchanged uneasy looks with my brothers. "Luke, your presence is welcome, Ana....I'm afraid you can't come with us."

I clenched my fists as I looked at the eight traitors murderously, "And why the fuck not?"

"Ana, you're our secret weapon," Damien said calmly, "we don't want Maximus Kali to get even a whiff of you."

"Plus, I'm going to need you to supervise the installation of the cameras and mics around the perimeter," Nyal looked at me, hoping that this would cheer me up.

"And you're going to have to take over training," Axel said.

I breathe in deeply, "Okay. Does anyone else want to join the band of misfits?" I looked around the room. My calmness unsettled Dad and my brothers, little did they know the fury that was raging inside me. Luke pulled me closer and rubbed my shoulders as I rolled my lips over my extended canines. "Welcome to the Suicide Squad. Excuse me," I muttered.

Luke released me as Dad nodded. My family knew better than to attempt to calm me down whenever I got mad. I beelined to Luke's room, sitting down in front the glass wall.

I jumped and snarled when two hands rest on my shoulders. Luke shushed me and sat behind me, rubbing my shoulders and neck in an effort to calm me down. I sighed and put my head on knees as his touch sent shivers down my spine and my muscles relaxed. I curled up in his arms and sighed as we looked out onto the lake.

"You know what they're saying is true," Luke said quietly. "You are more use here than over there. For now," he added as I tensed beneath him again.

"And what if something happens to you or my brothers?" I said softly.

"Nothing's going to happen," he murmured, wrapping his arms around me. "And I'm sure you'll know and come wreak havoc on the Nightwalker pack."

"I will make hell look like an oasis when I'm done with them," I growled. My wolf was itching for a fight. The Nightwalker pack was a tick in our hide and we could only bear it for so long.

Luke opened his mouth to say something but Dad calling my name interrupted his train of thought. I rolled my eyes and slid to the bottom of the stairs using the banister.

"Yes?" I looked up at him.

"We leave at the crack at dawn tomorrow," Damien informed me. He looked up at Luke who nodded.

"I'm spending the night here," I said firmly, eyeing my brothers. Dad raised an eyebrows, engaging me in a stare down. My mate was leaving in less than twelve hours and they had pissed me off earlier, this was compensation.

"Just don't do anything you're not ready for," Dad conceded. My brothers scoffed but shook their heads. "Good night Ana-bear," Dad pulled me in for a hug.

"Night," I murmured. Luke's joy was overwhelming and it was hard to keep a straight face while listening to the arrangements for tomorrow.

"Night boys," I chorused. Luke wrapped an arm around my waist as they walked out. We popped into the living room to tell Emma and Jonathan good night before heading up to Luke's room.

"You go shower first, I need to tell the guys what's going on," Luke handed me one of his jersey as I retrieved my spare clothes.

One hot shower and a pair of clean undies later, I was lying on Luke's bed, drowning in the jersey he loaned me and scrolling through my phone, replying to the countless messages from everyone. The bed dipped under Luke's weight as he lay next to me. The air around him was saturated with his scent and his blue eyes shone in the dark of the night. I smiled as he wrapped his arm around me, pulling me closer. I buried my face in his neck.

"You had something on your mind earlier," I murmured, tracing his bare skin. "What was it?"

Luke kissed my forehead, "You don't need to answer it if you don't want to but how did your Mom die?"

I breathed in sharply as memories flit across my mind. "I'm alright," I answered Luke's unspoken concern. "She died protecting Ari and Asher during an attack."

"I don't remember much, most of what I do know I gathered from everyone's memories. I was around 2 years old. Rowan, Jared, Ari, Asher and I were with Mom. All the kids who hadn't shift yet were being guarded by the ladies. Ari and Asher were a bit angry that Axel, Nyal and Damien were allowed to fight. They snuck out to join the fight, Mom found out and went to rescue them. Everyone's memories are a bit fuzzy here, but the next thing they knew, she had been shot with a silver bullet. That was also the day Asher and Ari shifted so....yeah."

I looked down, "I don't remember Mom much, just like the tone of her voice or the colour of her hair. I've never felt comfortable asking anyone about her so most of what I know are from pictures or her journal."

I leaned against Luke's chest, letting the sound of his steady heartbeat calm. His fingers caressed the small of my back and I sighed happily.

"Maybe that's why your wolf is so aggressive," he murmured. I pulled back and looked at him.

"Do you feel any anger over your mom's death?" I shook my head but closed my eyes in pain. I felt his thumb brush the skin under my eyes.

"Maybe all that is channelled into your wolf," Luke continued. "You mightn't feel the anger and pain, but your wolf does."

I mused over what he was suggesting. For many years Dad and I sat down talking, trying to deduce a possible reason for my wolf's anger and rage. Luke's suggestion has never crossed our minds.

"You know, I think your calmness in the meeting scared the crap out of your family," he chuckled, making me smile. "I think they expected you to rip their throats out."

"I've been trying to control her, you know that," I defended myself, "I can't keep flying off the handle every time things don't go my way."

"I'm so proud of you, you've grown so much since we first met." Luke kissed me softly.

I smiled, relishing in his taste and his compliment, "So have you." My phone pinged softly breaking the silence. I sighed as Luke reached over and handed it to me.

"What's wrong?" he asked as I replied to the message.

"Penny is overdue with her baby," I informed him. "Richard just informed me that she and Daniel have finally conceded to induce labour, the doctors say that more than likely she will have to undergo a C-section."

Luke's lips pressed in a firm line. Unlike his father and most males, Luke actually gave a shit about women's health and wanted to be kept in the loop about everything so it just wasn't my burden to bear.

"Everything will be okay. You and Mom know what to do," his sleep-laden voice made me smile.

"You shouldn't worry," I ran my hand through his hair. "Just focus on the mission tomorrow."

Luke pulled me closer and our wolves growled contentedly. Within minutes, using each other's heartbeat as a lullaby, we were sound asleep.