I woke up to my phone ringing and the I Will Not Bow song playing loudly. I reached over and answered it as quickly as possible, eager to hear any news.

"Everly you need to do something for me." Kasparov ordered on the other side of the phone. I looked at the time, cringing at the 3am madness I was about to be put through.

"Kasparov, it's 3am, what are you—"

He interrupted me. "Drive to Sovereign Pack Territory. "

I closed my eyes, confused at his request. Why would I want to go to Sovereign? "What the hell? Why? I don't want to walk around with some mutts." I almost snarled like them right there.

Kasparov cleared his throat. "Everly those "mutts" can rip you to shreds. And we need Arlis. I think Becker is going after him next." After him?

I stood up on the bed and ran to the window, opening it and letting a cool breeze blow into the room. I don't know why I did it, maybe I expected Becker to sneak through my window once again like he used too.

"What do you mean after him next?" I hissed.

He took a deep breath, about to break bad news. "He's working for Konrad." He said and I felt my heartbreak. I had the fair warning from Konrad that he was, but hearing it confirmed by Kasparov made it so much more real.

"No." I whimpered out and fell back onto the bed, Colin was awake now and was staring at me like I was a fragile china plate. "No you're lying, I don't believe you."

"Four." He said. "He's killed four Alphas. He went from Montreal in Quebec, to Sandy Lake in Ontario, to Winnipeg in Manitoba, to Grenora in North Dakota." He said places that I couldn't picture on a map, about a person I couldn't picture hurting anyone.

I closed my eyes. "Christmas is in 6 Days." I rubbed my temple, thinking that if Kasparov wasn't lying, maybe this was the present we'd be given. The death of Alpha Arlis, the man who's blood killed Konrad in the first place. "I think you should go to Sovereign Pack on Christmas." I concluded. Going now wouldn't make a difference.

How was Konrad killed the first time? Well, as Becker tells the story. He stabbed Arlis Barron with a special dagger that sucked blood from Arlis into it. In order to kill a Salem Of The Old Witch, you have to either have a Salem Of The Old Witch dagger, or the blood of someone born from the first ever supernatural to kill a Salem Of The Old Witch.

The Barron family was the first to succeed in killing a Salem Of The Old Witch.

As Konrad has destroyed all Salem Of The Old Witches' daggers, Arlis's blood had to do.

Constance, Arlis, and Becker all worked together to kill him, tossing the dagger to each other so they each had a chance.

In the end, Becker stabbed Konrad in the heart with it and bound him to chains that kept him locked in Hell. Only way to break the chains is to be a Salem Of The Old Witch, as to why he needs Becker.

I almost dropped the phone.

"Four." Colin coughed into his hands, stretching his arms. "As of right now considering it's 3am. You slept a very long time not only here but in the hospital too."

I didn't care that I apparently slept longer than I should have. That was a minor detail compared to everything I was learning now.

"I got it." I said, laughing out loud.

"Your time is seriously messed up, Eve. Why are you laughing?" Kasparov asked.

"They're a distraction." I said, nodding my head. "He's playing with our heads and distracting us. We haven't been asking the real questions."

"Everly what are you talking about?" Kasparov asked from the other side of the phone. "The deaths of the Alphas?"

I nodded, scoffing. How were we all so dumb? And blind?

"It's two separate spells, Kas. One to break the chains placed on Konrad and one to raise him from Hell!" I exclaimed, nearly slapping myself.

Kasparov sighed loudly. "Yes. Okay. But how are they a—"

"The spell to raise him from hell is harder than the one to break his chains. That's the spell that almost killed Becker. But how did the chains break allowing Konrad to invade our nightmares and walk through Hell freely? Ghost us?" I asked. "Talk to people?"

Kasparov held a quick intake of breath, coming to the same realizations I was.

"Only a Salem Of The Old Witch can break the chains! And it wasn't Becker because Becker wasn't working with him until now. There's—"

"Another Salem Of The Witch." Colin finished off for me.

I nodded and pointed at him. "Yes! Another Salem Of The Old Witch."

Kasparov hummed, not really going along with my idea. "I don't know, Everly. I think... I think Becker might have just been working with him this whole time."

I almost threw my phone out the window, shattering it. "No thank you. You're wrong. You don't know him like I do." If he was here I'm sure someone would have to be pulling us apart by now.

He took a deep breath. "I think I know him well enough. He's my son."

I almost laughed. "Is he? You don't treat him like he is. His last name isn't even Dawn. You're a terrible father, I hope you know that." He's accusing his own "son" of being the enemy. And on top of that, he's ignoring the facts. Probably out of fear. Another Salem Of The Witch changes the game.

"I know I am. I also know him better than any people think I do. I once—"

"I don't care about what you once did." I was talking to a wall at this point. Everything I said went in one ear and out the other with him. "I care about what you're not doing now. Which is trusting your own family."

He screamed into the phone. "You don't understand, Everly! Constance, who I did trust, is working with him! Becker always follows. You think I want you to go to Sovereign to keep Arlis safe? No he can do that on his own. I want you to go there and make sure he doesn't switch sides." Kasparov yelled, tired of the entire situation. "I know that trio very well. And I know they follow each other to the ends of the Earth." Of course, Kasparov with his double meaning instructions. He couldn't just come out and say the real reason why he wanted me there.

I sighed loudly. "I can't just walk onto Sovereign Pack Territory, you don't understand! It doesn't work like that Kaspar." I argued back. "Becker is not doing this without a good reason. He is not—"

"Everly." Dad's soft voice came from the other end.

"Dad?" I whispered, my hands shaking.

"Hey Eve. I know, I know it hurts baby girl. But you have to face the facts. Becker is working against us no matter the context and no matter the details. So is Constance. Please, just—"

"You're all so narrow minded!" I yelled back. "Why would Becker work for the man who killed his mom!? Why would he work for someone who has brought so much pain!?"

"You're asking the questions we all are, Eve. How do you think I feel? I love Becker like he's my own. He practically is!" He said calmly, trying to soothe me like he always could. "Kasparov doesn't take care of him, but I try my best!" So dad did know that Beck was Kaspar's son not Konrad's.

"You're not father of the year either." Kasparov muttered. The phone must have been on speaker.

"I didn't sell my daughter to a psychotic murderer!" My dad retorted. "Must I bring up Stone?"

Kasparov went off into incoherent mumbles before he added, "She killed him so it's not like nothing good didn't come out of it."

"Get the hell out of the stupid Motel, Kasp. I want to talk to my daughter, something you can't do to your own because Constance fucking hates you." My dad said angrily, and I heard a door slam. "Listen, sweetheart. Every chance we get, we're trying to help the kids and Becker. Dallas is headed back so you don't have to stay in Sovereign for too long."

"Will you be back for Christmas?" I asked, my heart missing my family. I wanted Zachariah back, and Fiona, and Dallas. I wanted my mom and dad. I missed them more than I was letting on. We always spent Christmases together.

"I don't know Eve, I don't know. Maybe. It's not looking too good. So far all we've found is that Quebec is up to no good and that Clay is royally pissing off anyone who says they don't know anything. How are they treating you there?" If only he knew.

I let out a long exhale. I was tired still. "Fine. Actually... no. Watch out for Alexzandria." I warned. "She went Atrax after Konrad visited her. I almost killed her but she got away."

"Well thank God you're safe. Good job for holding your own against a No-Souled Vamp. How is Colin? Has he tried anything?" My dad spat out his name viciously. I'm surprised he didn't get upset over my use of the word "Atrax" instead of what I was supposed to say.

"He's— he's Fine. He's pulling himself through. He's on page with us." I replied, hoping to ease some of my dad's wariness.

"I'll kill him if he tries anything, Eve. I'm serious. I have no liking towards him and if he even dares to try and touch you I will literally chop his hand off and feed it to a stray dog."

Colin gulped and I swear I heard his heart from here, hammering a million miles an hour.

I smirked at him and winked. "Alright dad. So I have to go to Sovereign?"

He sounded reluctant when he said, "Yeah. Just don't trust Arlis. He's a werewolf and a proud one at that. And... maybe don't bring Colin. Sovereign pack and the Golds do not get along."

"They're a bunch of assholes, what do you expect, Terrance." Clay shouted in the background.

"Oh shut up! You're just mad they have hair." Dad laughed. "He's balding. I can tell."

I doubt Clay was actually balding, but I laughed anyways. I could see how in the past they were friends at one point. "Alright, bye dad."

"Bye Eve. Stay safe."

I hung up and tossed the phone on the nightstand.

"I'm going with you to Sovere—"

"No you're not. That looks... way too suspicious. I'm going later today. But first... can we please go back to sleep." I walked to the bed and flopped down. "I don't want to talk about this right now."

He ran a hand through my hair and pulled me to him as he laid down, covering us with the blankets.

"Fine. Ugh, I forgot to shut the door. Dang it." He got up and shut the door all the way, locked it, and walked back to the window. "Do you want this shut?" He asked.

"No."

He yawned and crawled into bed, repeating his earlier process of covering us and pulling me to his chest. What a little princess.

"Night, Eve."

"Night, Col."

***

"Please. I will do anything." Colin said, batting his eyes like a toddler trying to get his way.

I shook my head as I packed a bag. "No! I will not risk the world finding out about us because you can't spend two nights alone at the most."

"I'm scared, Everly. I live in a big house and what if I die." He pointed out, puffing up his bottom lip. "I'd miss you even more then."

"Go spend the night at someone's house you idiot." I put a shirt in my case and Colin pulled it out.

I snatched it from him and put it back in, only for him to take it out once more.

"Colin this is RIDICULOUS. Nothing will happen while I'm gone." I put my hands on his cheeks. "My family knows them. Kind of. Constance knows them."

He hung his head. "I'm sure Fiona thought the same thing." I knew he was just worried, but that hit me.

I resented him for that statement. I really did. But that didn't make it any less true. "That was in Ireland." I pointed out. "This is... in a place that— okay I have nothing. But if something bad does happen to me, Becker can help get me out so..." I shrugged. "I'm not even scared. Konrad can come fight me, I don't give a fleeting fu—"

"Everly! You should." Colin ran a hand through his hair. "Please just... be careful. Call me every four hours. And if something goes wrong, use the code sentence, "everything is dandy, Gold." And I will immediately come find you." He hugged me and kissed my forehead. "Don't go missing."

I tapped his nose as I pulled away. "Colin I have to go. I'll be fine." I gave him a long look. "I'll fight the devil if need be to get back to you."

He smirked at me, the smirk that both drove me crazy as well as made me fall deeper into his poison. "What would I do without you?"

I couldn't think of a reality without him. There was no answer to his question. Even in an existence where God himself lost the war against Lucifer, our souls would still find each other.

I winked back. "Be looking for me." I walked down the stairs of my house and left, shutting the door behind me. I threw my bag in the trunk of my mom's car and pulled out of the driveway, quickly so I couldn't convince myself to stay.

I pulled up the directions dad sent me and mentally whined. It was probably a 2 hour drive to Sovereign and that was not something I was into by myself.

I wanted Colin to come so badly. I wanted him to argue just a little more so I'd give in and have him come. But I knew that wouldn't have been a good idea. A vampire and a Hunter together was bad enough, but showing up at a Pack together? Preposterous. Classic wrong move.

I turned on the radio and listened to whatever was on. Really, it was just my background noise.

The snow wasn't bad today, the roads were cleared and it wasn't snowing too hard. But still, driving wasn't something I was exceptional at. I wasn't some badass assassin who could drive like a champ. I was a teenage girl scared of leaving her driveway when I drove.

But, my family asked me to do something for them so that's what I was doing. I was completing a task that was sent to me by my father and Kasparov. Watch Arlis Barron and make sure he wasn't going to switch to Konrad's side. Because if he did, we'd lose this war.

I had a mental list of the most powerful supernaturals. Not politically because who actually cares about the leaders? But who could actually be powerful enough to scare even the toughest of supernaturals.

I had Becker as number one because... because well he's Becker. Kasparov and Arlis tied for second. Both had immeasurable amounts of strength, but each had something the other one didn't. Seymour Hall, Another werewolf and is in fact the oldest living supernatural known to mankind. He was (at one point, she has since now been deceased) mated to the girl who ended the first War of the Species. He's been around since the very beginning. You had the King of the Necromancers, I couldn't remember his name but I knew he was powerful enough to scare Kasp. Stone, an old and dead Hunter, would be on the list but... he's dead. And... Konrad. Sadly, our enemy was on this list.

I couldn't believe that my dad and Kasp still thought that Becker was doing this to be evil, because he wanted too. Konrad told me that Becker only joined because of a deal.

Obviously that deal was good. The same situation is probably why Constance is with him. Although, I don't know if I could blame Constance for switching sides. It's not like her dad was being great to her.

But... I had reasons to believe that Arlis wouldn't switch sides. Becker would trade his life for a bunny rabbit if it came down to it, so really he's not too hard to bribe. Constance was already against her father and has had issues for as long as I could remember so it's no shock that she's with Konrad. But... Arlis was a little more selfish and a little more honorable.

I didn't think he'd work for Konrad because he was an Alpha. He couldn't bring himself to work under someone else. His wolf wouldn't allow it.

But, if my dad wanted me there, that's where I was going.

***

It was around 4pm when I pulled into Sovereign Pack Territory. I don't know which part, but I could faintly see the pack line in magic on the ground.

I picked up my phone and tried to call my dad, but found that it went straight to voicemail.

"Dammit." I hissed and out my phone back in my pocket. "Hello!?" I called out, hoping to find someone from the Territory. I just needed someone to talk to so I could get to Arlis.

When no one responded I took a deep breath and stepped onto Pack Territory. I walked a total of twenty feet when a small tan wolf hopped in front of me, growling and snapping its jaws.

I held my ground against it. "I'm Everly Dawn, take me to Arlis."

The dog growled and jumped closer to me.

"I need to speak with Arlis." I said to the dog, knowing perfectly well why it was mad. I wasn't calling Arlis, Alpha Barron. Respectfully, I should have. Frankly, I didn't care.

Another growl snapped through the air and a larger white wolf stepped onto the clearing, his yellow canines sharp.

I took a deep breath as another wolf jumped down from a rock, this one smaller but still intimidating.

The wolf in front of me lunged to me and I fell onto my back, the wolf snapping at my face.

I put my hands up and knees the wolf in the stomach but it didn't do much. I punched the wolf in the jaw, but I was getting nowhere with this.

Only older Hunters, more experienced Hunters, could really take down a werewolf. It was like a human versus a lion where I was right now.

"Everly Dawn!" I screamed. "Do you want to deal with my family?"

"Win, get off of her." A semi-familiar voice called out.

I looked over and saw a dark-skinned man with short and curly hair stand there with basketball shorts on.

The wolf crawled off of me, growling and snapping.

"Chleo?" I asked.

The guy nodded. "Yes. What do you want?"

I took a deep breath and stood up, dusting my clothes off. "I have said that multiple times. I need to talk to Alpha Arlis."

Chleo narrowed his eyes. "Why so?" He asked.

I played a dumb face. "I want his cake recipe. Why do you think I need to talk to him? Becker is killing Alphas, Konrad is rising, and half my family is missing. He's powerful and I'm representing my family."

He rose up one eyebrow. "Where's Constance?"

I guess he wasn't completely in the loop. I frowned. "Working for Konrad." I replied and he shook his head.

"With Becker?" Chleo looked around him, almost as if something was watching him, watching us.

I nodded, my skin crawling beneath me. "Do you feel that?" I asked.

Chleo nodded and made a full 360 turn. "Win, go get Leif and Jonah."

I froze as a pop sounded through the air, something shifting with the wind. I grabbed my dagger and turned and threw it, the dagger imbedding itself into a man's chest.

The man stumbled, the snow crunching underneath him like glass.

I blinked as red leaked from his chest. He ripped it out and dropped it.

"I came back... where I lost." Konrad laughed and I watched his wound close up as he stood straighter.

He popped his neck and flung his hand, throwing me against the nearby tree like a useless rag doll.

I screamed as something in my back snapped and I fell into the snow, the cold icing my body.

"Konrad." Chleo muttered, confirming the fact that Konrad had just risen from Hell and this was his real body.

Konrad popped his fingers. "Oh. What a time to be back."