Amelia didn't come to school today. 

I should have expected that, but I didn’t. I was sure her mother was going to ban her from seeing me. She wasn't happy to find her man there either.

Trevino. I was told he had gotten himself killed years ago, which allowed Miller to rise as alpha of Night Walkers. I don't understand how he is alive today though.  

As I walked from the school building, I waved to some of the students I passed. Things have been quiet lately. Not a word had been heard from Alaric. Even Harris Groundhog had behaved himself. Usually the kid was trying to find a way to get to my mate. With my intervention, he was being kept in check. But one couldn't be too cautious when a vampire was determined to have someone that wasn't his in the first place. 

Once in my car, I leaned back, closing my eyes. I hoped this wasn't the peace being the all-hell-breaks-loose storm. Starting the car, I headed toward the outskirts. I wasn't ready to head home, so I pulled to the side. Getting out, I locked the car up after taking off the grey suit jacket and placing it on the back of the seat. I didn't need it with the heat, despite it being cloudy. No one would bother it, thinking it had broken down. 

I headed into the cover of the trees. The forest always made me feel peaceful. I could pick up the many sounds of nature. Rodents scurrying here and there. Some rushed to get out of my way. Birds of prey flew overhead, searching. The occasional snap or crush of twigs and leaves. 

As I walked aimlessly, I thought back to Amelia. Her wolf had surfaced, partly because of me. Did her father's return have anything to do with it wanting to be out? If he did turn her, it would make sense. His close proximity could be triggering. I just hope she doesn't become feral. 

The scent of another on the wind alerts me. Following the scent, I turned around. From behind a tree, he emerged. 

"You got a strong nose, Warrior." Romulus chuckled once, moving toward me. 

"In my business, a strong nose is needed." I watched him. Why wasn't he with Amelia and her mother? 

"That is the truth." He stopped once he was close enough. "I didn't expect to find out that one of Pack Eclipse's males is my daughter's mate." 

"I didn't expect to see Night Walkers former alpha alive." 

"Fair enough," he said with a grin. "Are you sure she's your mate?"

"My wolf recognizes her as ours. She feels it too." I could see him considering my every word. "If you're thinking about that promise you made, Miller has told us that you agreed to a union with his son and Amelia. He didn't say why though."

"I guess you want to know why I agreed to such a promise." He scratched the back of his head, averting his gaze. 

"Kind of," I answered. 

Before he could answer, the scents of others came, along with it the sounds of their approach. Romulus lowered his hand, looking to his right. "Looks like they finally caught me. It's right on time though."

Miller and a group of his warriors walked toward us. The look on Miller's face was one of quiet surprise. While his pack members wore equally shocking expressions. Miller's expression shifted to a neutral one within seconds, however, while he looked straight ahead.

"So you're the rogue we have been looking for," came Edward's voice. Looking to my left, I see my brother and a group about the same size as Miller's group approaching. 

"What are you doing here?" I asked Edward. 

Edward's gaze wandered over Romulus. "Tracking a rogue, but he looks like Romulus Trevino." 

Romulus turned to Edward with a sly smile. "That's because I am. It wasn't easy I gotta say. You have some good wolves there. Almost up to par with mine."

"You mean mine," Miller said as if to remind the former alpha. 

Romulus turned his gaze to Miller. "We made an agreement, didn't we, Ringer?" 

Miller glanced at Edward briefly. "We did." He brought his gaze back to Romulus. "A lot of things changed when you didn't come back. We should save this conversation for later when we're not in the presence of a rival pack."

"Rival? We're on good terms with Pack Eclipse." Romulus fully turned to face Miller.

Miller locked his hands behind his back as he stood tall. "Like I said: a lot has changed, since you've been gone."

"What does that mean?" Romulus took a step toward Miller. When he didn't answer, he turned his intense gaze on a man that stood to the right of Miller. "Chase, you're my lead warrior, care to tell me what Ringer isn't so willing to tell me." 

Chase obviously hasn't been expecting to be confronted, nervously, he looked to Miller for help. When his alpha didn't spare him a glance, he shifted uneasily on his feet. "Well, it's like this-"

"I didn't ask how it was like. I asked you to tell me what Ringer means by these changes that are apparently set." The tone of his voice held an edge to it. One that demanded obedience. The other warriors in Miller's pack shifted uneasily.

"I'm alpha now, Romulus," Miller said, which brought Romulus's gaze back to him.

Romulus nodded his head slightly. "As agreed, yes." 

"No, Romulus. I'm officially the alpha of Night Walkers Pack. Chase has been promoted as my beta." Miller shifted his gaze forward again. 

Realization sinked in as Romulus processed the information he had been told. He looked at Chase, and then at the other members in his former pack. Slowly his head came back to Miller. "We had an agreement, Ringer. You were temporarily in charge while I was away."

"You were gone for so long and we needed an alpha," Chase quickly spoke up, which earned him a glare from Miller.

"You had an alpha." Romulus cut his gaze to Chase. "I was never truly gone. You all knew this. That lie was to protect you all and you pick a new alpha after I went to save your beta."

Chase looked down, not being able to hold Romulus's stare."After two years of not a word from you, Alpha Miller stepped up for us." 

Romulus looked back at Miller. "You waited two years, huh. You couldn't have my daughter, so you went after my title instead."

The mention of Amelia grabbed my full attention. We, the other and I, had been watching the interaction with Romulus and his former pack quietly. It was clear that there were issues within Night Walkers and questions about Miller's rise to alpha. 

"Now, Romulus, we've been good friends for so long. You know I'm not a devious person. I was doing what a good alpha does: putting the pack first." The smile on Miller's face told a different story.

"And you think I wasn't putting the pack first? I sacrifice my time with my mate and daughter by putting the pack first."

"Come, come, we all know you went after Gustin for yourself. Besides, your relationship with that battleax of a human was endangering the pack anyway."

Romulus grabbed Miller by the collar of his shirt. A growl ripped through the air. 

At that moment, something, a feeling perhaps, hit me. My instincts were telling me that something was wrong. Turning my attention away from Romulus and Miller, I smelled the air, searching for potential dangers. 

I found no dangers, but I could taste the faint hint of distress. Sniffing again, I caught it. Her scent was there! She was in trouble! I looked at Miller, thinking he might have something to do with my mate's distress, but he was too busy squaring off with her father to have anything to do with this.

I began walking in the direction of my car. She was a good distance from here I could tell, but I could find her.

"Lucian, wait, where are you going?" Edward called behind me.

I didn't look back. I needed to get to her. "Amelia. She's in trouble." I said before taking off into a run. 

When I reached my car, I unlocked it and climbed inside. The knock on the passenger's side window had me looking. There stood her father. I unlocked the door, and worked on starting the car. "What are you doing here?" I knew the answer.

He hopped into the car, closing the door. "You said my daughter was in danger. I'm coming. I can deal with Ringer later. Get this contraption moving." 

I didn't have to be told twice. Speeding out here was no problem, so I drove.