Chandler POV

Somehow it was always better for me to think during the night. It usually helps me concentrate, analyze, and make my mind clear.

Yesterday, we got alarming news from the Murrow Clan. My mother managed to do the cleansing in the clan, and only two more spies were found, but we also experienced an attack from two more hunter clans, who were mysteriously notified that we cooperated with werewolves.

My mother managed to drive the attacks back, communicate with the leaders of those clans, and let them know about everything that had happened so far. The member of their clan who gave them the evidence of my clan's treason also turned out to be a former werewolf. But the problem is all those spies are like Norton; he knew nothing useful,  only followed directions, and was not interested in who he used to get them from.

But one thing is sure: our enemy is worried about our alliance. By stealing the body of the creature and using human gangsters to do it, he merely wanted to get rid of all the evidence. Then, his attack became more violent, but it was always directed at us from the shadows.

Sending Tania to Damon's pack, attacking the restaurant, probably approaching Sam, and setting hunter's clans against each other. He is worried; he is getting more and more concerned about our actions. Terry is right; we have to move things faster and be ready as soon as possible.

The creature... we know that there are more of them, that they were once omegas, and some were forced into becoming those monsters and some not. The creature is stronger and faster than a werewolf; its weak point is the spinal cord, and it heals exceptionally quickly. We have no idea if the omega can return to its normal form once turned into the creature. But if Tania was so easily planted in Twilight Pack, that means that many others could be planted the same way in different packs all over the country.

Our enemy had a warehouse he used for his experimentations, where he killed and tortured many people and could have many more of them. Probably deeper in the North, deeper into Arctica. That's the perfect spot to conduct things like that unnoticed.

Our enemy has some connection with FuturaHW Corp., which we checked, and it turned out that their main research center is located in Alaska and that the three packs that disappeared were actually conducting some business with this Corp., but nothing suspicious, mainly supplying with wood.

But I still wonder if it all actually started twenty years ago, when two boys had run away from the rogue's camp, and one of them paid for it with his life.

If Liam, the assistant of John Witt, was the boy who lived, what is his purpose? Why create this creature? Why conduct such brutal experiments? And what the human corporation would gain from these experiments. I'm not naïve; if the CEO of FuturaHW, Mark Brown, is collaborating with Liam using the discoveries of John Witt, it is to gain profit and more money. But how would creating such dangerous creatures possibly give him more money?

Fuck, the crucial in hunting is to know how your enemy thinks, what he wants, what he cares for, what he is ready to sacrifice to stay alive. And for now, we only know that our enemy is vicious and nothing more.

Liam... Liam Brixton is a ghost. There are no records of where he came from or where he went after the death of his mentor and apparently saver John Witt. And why does Rosie keep having visions about him? What the guy, who basically doesn't exist,  may have to do with all of it?

"Chandler can't sleep?"

I look in the direction of my bed and notice Pearl sitting and looking at me, and the sensation of warmness engulfs me. I have slept with her in her room since she left the infirmary. Terry isn't happy, yet he hasn't protested since it's good for her and the baby to be close to me.

"Sorry, I didn't want to wake you," I say, and she comes closer to sit beside me in the window frame.

"Chandler likes watching the moon?" she asks, smiling, and I nod. Actually, I do, very much.

She looks at me; the moonlight is sparking in her eyes, and I'm astonished with how beautiful she is, how pure she is in comparison to me. I reach my hand towards her and gently start playing with her fingers.

"Pearl, like watching the moon, moonlight makes calm and safe... like Chandler make me safe," she whispers. "But Chandler said bad things to Pearl before, why?"

"I wanted you to stop liking me," I say slowly.

"Why?"

"Because I'm a hunter, Pearl, my common sense told me it would be better for both of us that way. It had nothing to do with you; I would never physically hurt you, no matter what. But it would be best if you didn't trust me blindly. I'm your enemy."

"No, Chandler help Alpha Mikkeli lived; Chandler is friend to Tonya and Rosie. I know you, hunter, but Second Daddy is also a hunter."

She makes me smile, but I also wonder if maybe she has just noticed something I refused to see from the beginning. Hunters are werewolves' enemies, and yet even my mother told me that the world is changing. 

And what is happening now will change everything because, honestly, I think I would never allow Murrow Clan to attack the Black Moon Pack, no matter what, after everything I went through with Tonya and Terry. Being Pearl's mate doesn't change anything; anybody who gets my respect and my friendship will always have it.

This is no longer about a common enemy or threat towards humans. This is about people, both werewolves, hunters, and humans tortured and slaughtered. This is about those like Jake the Gamma of Third Territory and his dead brother, who was ripped away from his family. This is about citizens of Prescot who died screaming in horror during the night. About all these unnamed victims in that fucking warehouse on the North, whose death wasn't even noticed for so many years.

This is no longer about being at a disadvantage toward the werewolves but about evil. 

And this is about greed... Rosie says she senses suffering every time she has visions of our enemy, but deep down inside, I can't entirely agree with her. Many feelings can motivate actions, but during my years of hunting, I've learned one thing. When people do bad things, really bad things, they are usually inspired by two factors: their fear or their greed. And the most dangerous is when those two mend together like they seem to mend inside Liam Brixton.

"I love you, Pearl," I whisper, and she looks at me surprised.

"It's not about the baby; it's not about mating bond," I continue. "I love and will always love you. Maybe it won't be enough to give us a happy ending, but I will always love you."

"Pearl loves you too; Pearl is so happy."

I kiss her long and passionately. Tomorrow, I leave for New York, and Pearl will stay here to stay safe; I will miss her like crazy, I'm sure.

Tonya POV

I stand in silence in the public cemetery in Eugene.

I chose to study at the University of Oregon in Eugene because it was close to the Black Moon's territory, well, not very close, but close enough that I could study part-time. I was a brilliant student, probably because I started it the same year uncle Hank died, and concentrating on the thesis and exam and books made me feel like not wasting my time, made me feel less sad, I suppose.

I remember Professor John Witt, who was at that time like a legend in my Faculty and an excellent teacher; he had this spark in him that encouraged asking questions and motivated to gain more knowledge inside his students. When I finished my Bachelor's, he suggested I write my Major Thesis under his guidance, which has never happened because he has died from a heart attack. So I took my diploma and went back home.

And now I'm standing over his grave, looking at the flowers I've just put on it.

"What have you put yourself into?" I whisper, feeling Silver stirring inside me as I hear footsteps and turn around to look at Liam Brixton.

Of course, this is not a coincidence. I made some calls to my old acquaintance at the University, and after asking many questions, I found out that Liam Brixton, the former assistant of John Witt, usually visits his grave on this particular day every month.

He looks at me, surprised; it's not like I've expected him to start running away the moment he sees me.

"Hey, I'm Tonya the...."

"The former student, I suppose," he says indifferently, coming closer with his flowers.

"You remember me?" I ask, and he shrugs.

"Only former students come here from time to time," he bends his knees to put flowers down.

I inhale, but I smell no wolf from him, but I also smelt no wolf from Norton or uncle Hayden. Liam seems to be in his early thirties. He is slim and delicate, dressed appropriately, but his eyes... I get the vibe of terror, and yet I smile.

"But I remember you, Tonya; you usually asked very accurate questions during all the classes, and John liked questions. I would say he adored them. I'm surprised you recognize me."

"Well, I graduated barely a year and a half ago; it wasn't that long ago. I should have come earlier; I should have come to his funeral, life, I suppose."

He nods and smiles, and by the corner of my eye, I notice a big man in the suit standing about two hundred meters from us.

"You are not alone, I see. Is he your bodyguard?" I ask.

"Assistant, I work now for the corporation, and I have my own assistant," he says, and I put my hand on his head, my fingers intervening in his hair because he is still kneeling in front of the gravestone.

I notice that his assistant gets a bit too tense because of that and starts walking in our direction, so I quickly take my hand away as Liam's eyes become slits.

"I was always under the impression that it wasn't just a job for you, that Professor was very important for you. I'm sure you miss him very much."

He actually looks me straight in the eyes, but I fail to read anything from his face. I could kill him now, but I don't know what his role in all of this exactly is, and I have no idea if his death can change anything. And I'm not a murderer; I have to be sure that he is the guilty one to pass the sentence.

His assistant is coming closer as I say:

"It was nice to see you; congratulations on your job. I wish you good luck. I also hope that whatever you do, you will make Professor Witt very proud."

He says goodbye, but there is a change on his stone-cold face. Guilt? Disappointment?

"My pleasure," he says as I slowly walk away; neither he nor his assistant are trying to stop me. Noah and the Trio wait for me at the entrance to the graveyard; they have been watching everything from a bigger distance.

I nod to Tyler, and he walks in the opposite direction our limo is parked. The rest of us go back to the car. My cousins go to the front as we drive away. Chandler, Terry, and Rosie sit in silence in the backseat, watching Noah and me.

"Everybody else is already at the airport. Since we have spent the whole day waiting for him, we must take the plane in the evening," Chandler says.

I don't comment; I reach my hand towards my sister. Rosie is extremely pale when he puts her nose into it and starts sniffing. Soon, her eyes shift, and her fangs start going out; her breath is getting rapid. I instantly wrap my arms around her to hold her strong; her heartbeat is so  fucking fast, and she seems to have chills. She clutches at me as if she wants to hide in my arms from whatever visions she has got from the scent of Liam Brixton.

We all give her time since there is at least an hour-long road to the airport. The suffering on her face is obvious; even Noah is looking at her with compassion.

"It's him; it's his scent that was in the warehouse," Rosie whispers many minutes later, lying with her head on my lap. "I'm not sure if he is the boy who ran away from rogues and was saved by John Witt, but his scent is no longer his own; he reeks of blood and suffering."

"Have you had any visions?" Terry asks, and my sister nods.

"He was arguing with John Witt in his study; the Professor was on his knees pleading for Liam to say that he hadn't done it. That he hadn't used what they had found that way, that it wasn't his plan from the beginning. And Liam said that he had the right to do it, that there was no justice for omegas in this world, so he had to make sure to create justice by himself, and that was when John clutched his chest and fell to the floor. Liam rushed to him and started crying for him not to go, not to leave him alone. He was screaming that he was sorry."

The way she tells us all of this is almost robotic; she seems too tired.

She looks as if she is about to lose consciousness any time. When we board the plane to New York, I let her sleep, hugging Charlie since his pregnant omega pheromones should make her feel better. 

 We had to make sure to put on him very baggy clothes so his baby bump would not attract attention. Kathy doesn't say a word, but she looks at my sister with concern.

Everybody seems to be lost in their own thoughts as Noah holds my hand and whispers:

"There is something more," he says." Liam Brixton and his assistant walked very close to us when we were in the graveyard. I'm sure they didn't see us, but I got a good look at them. The assistant I don't know, but this Liam has a lot of physical resemblance to... to Shane, my former Alpha."

I don't comment; I squeeze his hand stronger. I wouldn't say I like that feeling... like I was caught in a spider web without any chance of getting out.

When we land at the New York airport, Tyler's call informs me that the tracking squad he was leading and whose task was to follow Liam failed because he and his assistant managed to disappear in thin air.