The rest of the day at the pack offices passed by in a flurry of activity and the weekend was much the same. I watched a random movie with Tabitha, but it seemed odd without Jodi to round out our little trio. Matthias came to visit on Saturday, but he did not stay long.

We stayed at Serge's house on Saturday and Sunday, but there were a unusual number of visitors throughout the day, mostly pack members.

If felt like there was nowhere safe to look and the only place safe to hide was out in the forest or in my room. I tried to force myself to be around the pack members to the best of my ability, but my reserves were quickly depleted and I was reduced to a cowering thrall once again.

Monday marked my fifth week as a thrall and brought with it our return to the pack offices. I gave up trying to help, the stimulus was too much for me and I sensed that I was going to need all the strength I could get by the end of the week. I decided to take a short rebellion vacation, since the curse was already punishing me harshly before I even stepped out of line.

I came to appreciate the relative peace of my earlier enthrallment.

While listening passively at supper, I learned that the challenger had set the date for the battle as the Friday directly after the vote, if it came to that. I also discovered that the three leaders intended to meet the next day for a quick less formal meeting than had originally been planned.

"C-can I c-come to it?" I asked. "I w-want to s-see my dad."

"Of course," Serge agreed easily.

I almost managed to look towards him and smiled to show my gratitude.

* * * * * * * * *

I woke up in the morning, my heart pounding and tears on my face. I rubbed off the liquid and looked at my damp hand. Tears? What had I been dreaming?

Had I dreamt of my mother? Like always, I could not remember.

I dragged myself out of bed. I hoped I was hiding it effectively, but I was wearing down. I was more shaky than I had been in weeks.

I could only hope that the challenger would lose the vote on Thursday and I could go back to my new, manageable normal.

I got myself ready and made my way out to the kitchen to find Karen cooking breakfast for Serge and Dan and presumably me. I sat on the furthest stool from Dan and Serge and ate and drank what was put in front of me.

Once we were finished, we headed to the pack offices as per our new normal. I carried my backpack into my little crevice and tried to keep myself occupied.

There was a firm knock on the door. I jumped.

"Elise?"

It was Serge.

"C-come in," I squeaked.

The door opened and he walked inside. We had not been alone much since the night of the challenge.

He lowered his large body into the chair against the wall.

"Se-Ser...?"

"Sorry to bother you," he said.

"N-no b-bother."

"Are you going to be alright at the meeting? We might have to talk about topics that are hard for you."

I nodded. Silence stretched out between us.

"I'm going to lose the vote," Serge informed me.

"Y-you d-don't know that," I protested.

Serge exhaled. "I do. It's going to come down to battle."

Maybe he did know what he was talking about but... "Y-you'll w-win, right?"

"I'll try. Some want me to simply step aside when and if Landon wins the vote," he said.

I bit my lip. I did not want that, but was I being selfish?

"Those same people have informed me that he's going for the kill in our fight."

I heard myself whimper as the curse tightened its grip.

"If it comes to that, I only hope you'll be free."

I felt wetness in my eyes. Tears twice in one day. I did not know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing.

"Don't cry," he said. He was across the small room, but somehow his words felt like he was next to me.

"Then d-don't die," I responded.

He chuckled harshly. "You make me long for a world that could never be, Elise."

He turned back to business. "Sorry for interrupting you. I'll send Jodi when your father arrives."

He left the little office, leaving me to ponder his enigmatic words.

* * * * * * * * *

A knock at the door pulled me out of my contemplations. It opened to reveal Jodi. "Hey, you've got company."

I nodded and stood up. I followed Jodi out of the room and into the entryway. I walked over and hugged my father. Sean pulled his annoying hair move. I turned and hugged Sean out of revenge.

Sean disengaged himself from my vengeful embrace. He began talking with Jodi with the same enthusiasm he had the day he had met her. I managed to glance at her face long enough to see that she seemed to be enjoying the exchange.

Sean was so annoying. The world was falling down all around me and he was still flirting with a pack member with whom I was close.

My father had been inspecting me. He frowned. "You're not doing well," he commented.

I scowled back at him. "I was making pr-progress before the challenge messed everything up. Once S-Ser... Once h-he wins I'll p-pick up where I left off, dad. I wish you'd all look at how w-well I'm doing instead of focusing on the bad."

"I'm not going to argue with you, Elise. I'm glad you have such a positive attitude."

"Thanks," I said begrudgingly.

"Just remember that we need to be prepared for every eventuality," he cautioned.

I knew he was talking about if Serge were to lose and the old familiar chill swept through me.

Before I could think of something to say, the door opened again and I glanced over. "Matt!"

"Hey, Elise," he drawled.

I disengaged from my father and threw my arms around my friend. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to give you support, of course."

"Me?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks," I said.

My father nodded to Jodi as he began walking down the hall. Sean followed and Matthias took me by the arm to pull me along.

"Oh, so you're here to babysit me," I whispered.

"Support, not babysit," he said.

"Pfft. I'm not a child."

He frowned. "It's like your toe example. If you could only move your toe, would we expect you to push around your own wheelchair?"

"Oof. Using my own words against me."

"Well, whatever it takes to get my way."

"Bully," I shot back.

"You wound me."

"Good. I could have m-managed just fine on my own."

"Well, maybe I wanted an excuse to visit," he said.

"Well, that's a different thing," I allowed. Our conversation stopped as we ducked into a conference room where my father joined Austin and Serge. I had not seen the stocky redheaded leader for over a year. He had always been friendly to me in passing and his wife was amusingly quick witted.

Sean sat beside my father. Leah and Dan were also present at the table. Another staff member was seated at a desk off to the side with a laptop.

I took a seat next to my brother and Matthias next to me.

Serge spoke. "Nicholas, Austin, I thank you for coming today on such short notice. I believe that it would be well worth still joining together for the interpack meeting on the date we had originally planned, whether or not I am still with you."

I saw my father nod and I could feel icy canines in my neck.

"We all know that the eastern wolves have been moving again at a much more furious pace than in the past. I have a number of suggestions that I would like to run by you, while it is still my place to do so. Of course, if I'm gone, then the decision will lie on you two and I hope that you will help guide Landon as he attempts to fill my role."

"Of course, Serge," Austin said. He at least sounded respectful, so the curse did not flare up at his words.

Serge launched into a discourse on ideas for improving the defense around the three territories. I listened with half-hearted attention, because the curse was being more insistent than I had grown accustomed to.

Finally, I figured out why the curse was assaulting me. I was supposed to be low, but I was sitting at the table with the three leaders and their staff as if I was somehow higher than dirt. I could feel the will of the curse trying to drag me down where I belonged.

"It's a nice idea, but there's no money in the budget," my father said. The curse hit me again.

"It would save funds in the long term, because we would not need our people on patrol at the same frequency. With more time they could be productive in other ways. If I am here next week I will be implementing new technology in our lands. We can't ask for the help of average humans without exposing our magic, but we can use their tech to bolster our defenses."

I glanced at the clock. They had been arguing for almost an hour with no resolution. I wondered if my father was letting his feelings get in the way of being cooperative or if he genuinely disagreed with Serge's proposal. The curse rippled over me at the thought.

"Perhaps we should speak of the push to become more offensive in our strategies instead," Austin offered.

Thankfully both my father and Serge took the hint and they moved on to the topic they had discussed after the disastrous dinner where my father let his temper get the better of him. The three men discussed theories on how and why the eastern wolves had increased their assaults.

"How long has this fight lasted? We can't keep playing defensive forever. When will it end?" Serge ground out.

"They've lost more than we have," my father said.

"And they have more they can afford to lose," Serge retorted. "They're waging a war of attrition. We're at the end of the line, Nick and you know as well as I do that things are only going to get worse. We're winning all the battles, but they're winning the war."

My father gritted his teeth. I could see the lines on his face all the more clearly since my stupid mistake.

Austin looked weary, too, and his territory bore the least of the brunt of the attacks.

I could not look at Serge's face, but I knew it well enough by now from pictures. I was certain he looked at least as drained as the other two.

They were at the end of their abilities to hold out against our attackers. How many more attacks before they finally broke through? Maybe the second line of defense could hold them off, but eventually we would have nothing left.

I might have damaged our efforts when I was cursed, maybe Landon's challenge had put more strain on the bonds, but perhaps all that had only hastened the inevitable.

My head drooped.

"It's going to be fine," Matthias whispered.

I met his dark eyes and they begged me to believe his lies.

The meeting wound up shortly afterwards. Everyone was subdued upon leaving.

I walked alongside Matthias, holding his arm.

Everyone said their farewells. Austin smiled his boyish smile. "After Serge has won the challenge, you'll have to get him to bring you up to my territory. It's a little known fact, but Pastor Jensen is quite the history buff, and that includes werewolf history. You never know what he might remember."

I perked up a bit, both from Austin's optimism and from the idea of talking to someone else who might have a clue to a solution. The curse raged, but the cold could not entirely bury my interest. "I'll do that. After the challenge is done," I promised.

"Take care now," he said.

I hugged Matthias again one last time and then all the guests departed.

* *  *   *   *   *   *  * *