''Well this is disgusting and it stinks,'' Charles states.

''No shit Sherlock,'' Theo replies and I stifle a laugh.

''Well who is going to clean this up, I know I'm not doing it,'' He says and walks back to the living room. 

''Guess we will have to do it ourselves huh?'' I ask Theo and he nods.

''Let's get to it then shall we?''

We both walk towards the kitchen and fish out some cleaning supplies. ''I'll just pick this up and throw it into the trees and you can try to get the blood stains out,'' Theo says and proceeds to grab the elk by its antlers.

I put on the gloves and start scrubbing the floor to get the stains out when I sense movement behind me, ''Well don't you look comfortable down there darling?'' he says in his smooth voice.

''How did you get in Sebastian?''

''You know it's not wise to leave your front door open Athena, although I did knock before entering.''

''And that's supposed to earn you merit points?'' I ask with a raise of my brow and he chuckles.

''I'm here to help you Athena,'' he says and casually leans against the door frame. I've managed to get most of it out but there is still a brownish stain on the patio.

''That's not helping you know. If you really want to help, here, take this and go fill it water so that I can wash off the soap,'' I order and hand him a bucket. He takes it and goes to the bathroom to fill it up.

Once he's back he hands it to me and I dump the water over the patio to get the soap off then proceed to mop off the excess. 

''You know you look like Cinderella, all scrubbing and cleaning. You know of her don't you?'' he asks from his position at the door frame.

''You watch Disney movies?!'' I ask shocked that he even knows Cinderella.

''What, like it's a crime. Of course I watch them, See, all you need right now is the blue eyed prince,'' he states suggestively.

''In case you didn't notice, I already have my prince,'' I reply and motion towards Theo who appears from the forest. Sebastian remains silent as he eyes Theo who walks up to us.

''Oh heyy brother, what brings you here?''

''Nothing, just thought of passing by and helping Cinderella here clean up the mess, I should get going though; wouldn't want to come in your way,'' he says and makes a move.

''Hey Sebastian!!'' I call, ''just FYI, Prince Charming didn't have blue eyes; they were brown.''

''I know darling, though he would look good with blue eyes,'' he winks and leaves.

''Uhh...mind telling me what that was all about?'' Theo asks. ''Ohh.... nothing serious, just an inside Disney joke,'' I reply with a wave of my hand.

''You have inside jokes with Sebastian now?''

''Ohh come on Theo, he is my friend and we have jokes, but there is nothing to worry about okay,'' I reassure him.

The days progress to weeks and my anxiety levels have reached a high. I couldn't sleep properly knowing that the witches are out there planning to take us down.

We have upped our training sessions now. Instead of training for two hours per day, we now train for four hours. On top of that Theo and I train separately by the foot of the mountains when we go for our runs.

As usual, we go for the perimeter checks to keep an eye out for any rogue activity. The only positive outcome of this is that all the packs have gotten closer with each other than before. We occasionally visit Benjamin, Ashton and Ethan to discuss on matters pertaining to the upcoming fight.

We know It's going to happen, we know a lot of lives are on the line, we even know who we are up against; kind of. The only thing we don't know is when and that thought keeps me awake almost every night.

We have re-searched, gone through every book in werewolf history looking for anything on a blue eyed wolf but the only information we got was that the only time a wolf has icy blue eyes is when they have taken the life of an innocent, unlike me the rest of the group already knew that.

My afternoons are spent on the witch's book that I got from Theo's office. I'm currently in my study/previous room reading the book page by page and referring to the internet when Sebastian walks in. 

Over the past few weeks he has gotten this habit of walking into my home like he owns it.

He saunters in and takes a seat on one of the couches, ''You seem busy darling.''

''And yet here you are,'' I retort not taking my eyes off the laptop.

''Not a nice way to talk to your friend Athena.''

''If you are here to give me advice on friendship, I suggest you walk away.''

'That book doesn't have what you want darling but I know someone who does,'' he says cockily and I look up at him from my laptop.

''Now that I have your attention; how about we go for a walk?''

''I'm not going anywhere with you Sebastian; I have work to do.''

''That's a futile attempt at work darling, why don't you come with me. I might have something that can help you in this impending war.''

I sigh and get up closing my laptop in the process, ''This better be good.''

''Oh trust me it is,'' he smirks and ushers me out the door, ''After you darling.''

We walk along a familiar path crossing our borders. We are now outside the pack and my senses are on high alert. 

''Relax Athena, you're with me; you'll be safe.''

''That's exactly why i'm worried,'' I scoff. 

''I'm going to pretend to not be offended by that.''

''Tell me this Sebastian, why do you always come to me when Theo is not around and even if he is present you leave almost immediately?'' I ask and see his facial features contort in what seems like anger I'm guessing.

''Are you insinuating that I'm scared of my brother?'' he questions me in return and I chortle a laugh.

''Nothing of that sort, I'm just curious. So tell me, why?''

''Out of respect for him,'' he replies. ''I'm friends with you and it would make any guy uncomfortable seeing their mate being friendly with another male. I usually joke around and annoy you when we're alone but around him I know there are boundaries.''

I nod in understanding at his reply, ''Let me be the one to tell you then that Theo is totally okay with you being around us, in fact you should hang out with us more often; you'll see it for yourself. Anyway our friendship is totally platonic so it's not a big deal right?'' I question him but he doesn't reply and walks forward.

''Right? Right Sebastian?'' I shout but he doesn't answer and we continue walking in silence until we reach the caves. Weird.

''Why are we here?'' I turn to look at him and he points to the sides of the cave.

''Remember when I said there is something that can help you in the war?''

''Actually you said 'someone', but yeah, go on.''

''Same difference darling. In my young days I used to come here to play with my 'friends', He starts and air quotes the word friends. ''I used to play with the coven kids before the witches tricked me into luring Theo here.''

''You never had friends at the pack, that you had to make friends with witches?'' I ask as he leads me down a very narrow path.

''Consider me the black sheep of the family,'' he replies then continues, ''ever since I was a small boy I had a keen eye of observation. I noticed some of the witches go down this path every time and when they came back they seemed weak, like their powers all drained off. So one day I followed them stealthily and found this,'' He gestures to a small clearing.

We walk through the vines and I marvel at the sight before me, there is small waterfall which feeds water to the plants and various flowers that grow around it and a stream that leads the water away. The colorful flowers, insects and birds all make it look like a paradise.

''This is what you wanted to show me, seriously? Maybe they came for a swim or something that's why they looked tired and drained,'' I say and Sebastian chuckles.

''You can be so smart and yet so dumb at the same time darling, look closer by those trees,'' he says and we walk towards them. I see these beautiful white flowers with a yellow center and crouch down to touch them, ''These are beautiful,'' I say in amazement.

''Beautiful to us but deadly to the witches,'' he states and I stare at him in shock, ''what!!''

''Yup, they're called blood-root and they do to the witches what wolfs bane does to us.''

''Shit!! Sebastian this is amazing, we can finally have an upper hand in this fight,'' I squeal and hug him.

''Yeah you do Athena, yeah you do,'' he replies and hugs me back.

I pluck as many flowers as I can and put them in my jacket pockets and stash others in my jeans.

''I need to inform Theo and the others, come let's go,'' I grab his hand and we rush back to the pack.

Once I reach home, I quickly go up to my room and put some of the flowers in a box and hide it in my shoe closet. Sebastian is patiently waiting for me by the stairs.

''Come on, let's go to the office, we need to tell Theo. In fact, you can tell them, at least that way Charles will stop being rude to you.''

''Whoooaaa ......stop right there. I'm not coming with you Athena; you have to tell them. As for Charles I don't think anything I do will change his perception of me. So go ahead and give them this bit of good news.''

''But...but... Sebastian you helped. They also need to know that you're with us in preparation of this fight,'' I state but he just shakes his head.

''The important thing is that YOU know, I don't care about Charles or Ashton knowing or anyone else for that matter; so why don't you go okay darling?'' he says in a soft voice and I smile, ''thank you.''

I burst into Theo's office with pride in my voice, '' Hello boys!!! Guess who found something to help us in the war?''

''Uhhh let me think, Chef Perez? Or is it Aiden? Ohhh Caleb maybe? Oh wait he is dead,'' Charles jokes and I roll my eyes at him, ''Not funny okay!''

''What have you got love?'' Theo speaks up from his chair.

''Well this my friends, is a blood-root flower,'' I say as I pull it out from my jacket and place it on the desk.

''Great, so what? we will offer them flowers as sign of peace?'' Charles retorts and I smack the back of his head.

''Listen first before you jump to conclusions; The blood-root is poisonous to the witches, kind of like what wolfs bane is to us, ''I announce and mimic a mic drop.

''uhhh huhh...and where did you get that from, Witchipedia?'' Charles says seemingly bored with my announcement.

''As a matter of fact no, Sebastian showed it to me,'' and I continue to tell them everything he told me about the blood-root.

''If this is true then we have chance at winning this fight love,'' Theo says and I look at him happiness clear on my face.

''Uhhh you guys, I think you're missing the point here; This is Sebastian we are talking about. Can we trust him? what if he is just messing with us?'' Charles questions.

''No Charles, I don't think he is, this seems genuine, I think I remember reading about blood-roots somewhere; but I didn't pay attention at that time,'' Theo says solemnly.

''I don't believe this, I mean do we even know if this flower works; it looks pretty harmless to me, Charles complains and I sigh.

''Well, I guess there is only one way to find out.''

***

So now they have weapon to use against the witches.

What do you guys think of Athena & Sebastian's friendship?

thoughts in  the comment section below. Happy reading :)

P.S -The book is coming to an end. Six more chapters to go!

-Jessica.S