Chapter 12: Elaine watched her pack disappear into the woods. She and Faust had agreed to send the ones who couldn't fight to a nearby ally pack. For her pack, only a few dozen left and she sent a small group of ten of her warriors with the members and double back after. As the last of the pack was out of her sight, she sighed and turned around. Jay and Polly were staying even after her insisting they leave as well. But the pair stood firm. They were now staying in Gina and Alaska's tent, a condition she set after she gave up convincing then to leave. Elaine made her way back to her own tent, where Scinece and Lincoln were sitting on the couch after she let them out of the secret room. Lincoln threw his arms around her as soon as she stepped into the tent. She returned the hug and fell into his arms. She was exhausted from today's events and she was feeling it now. Scinece jumped up and went over to them and helped Lincoln get Elaine to the bed. The tired Alpha dropped on the bed with a sigh. Lincoln and Scinece cuddled up to her sides and she wrapped her arms around the twins, pulling them closer. Their combined warmth shielded Elaine from the chill air. She sighed again, content with having her mates with her for now. The next morning, Elaine woke to find Scinece staring down at her. Elaine smiled and brought her head up to give her a quick kiss on the lips. She sat up, stretched and almost hit Scinece in the face. "Sorry," she said and stood up. Lincoln stirred awake and yawned. The twins watched as Elaine made her way into the small shower before she pulled a divider between her and the twins. She laughed when she heard Lincoln groan. She only took a quick shower and minutes later, she emerged from the shower, wearing only a towel. "Take a shower too, it's gonna be a long day today," she said, before she walked to the dresser. She heard someone walk up behind her and felt them put their hands on her exposed shoulders. Then she felt them press against her back. It was Scinece and Elaine felt her press kisses down the column of her neck. She tilted her head to give her mate more access to her neck. Scinece pulled Elaine away from the dresser and Lincoln stepped in. He claimed Elaine's lips and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Tag teaming me, huh?" She said, pulling away for a moment. She cupped Lincoln's cheeks and pulled his face down to continue kissing him more. Elaine had forgotten about Scinece momentarily, but she made her presence known when she nipped at the spot behind Elaine's ear. Elaine gasped, letting Lincoln explore every corner of her mouth. The twins moved her back until they fell back onto the bed. "We love you," they said in unison, Lincoln and Scinece pulling away to switch positions. Elaine whispered softly, but she knew they would hear it, "I love you more." -*-*- After the twins had their way with her, Elaine had dressed in a pair of leggings, a loose long-sleeved shirt and the boots that help with balance. She left the twins sleeping peacefully on her bed while she grabbed her spear and made her way to Faust's office. Even at the dead of night, she knew he would be awake, planning for the battle. Suddenly, something rustled in the trees to her right. She immediately raised her spear, her stance defensive. She walked slowly to the source of the sound. Then, a squirrel jumped out, stared at her curiously then scampered away. Elaine sighed and lowered her spear. She has recently been on edge the past few days, but Scinece and Lincoln's presence helped her calm down a lot. She turned to leave, when something stuck on a tree caught her eye. She cautiously made her way to the tree and what she saw made her blood run cold. It was stained with blood, but Elaine still took it into her hands. She opened the small note. Thr handwriting was neat and elegant, a complete contrast to the condition of the paper itself. "The thirteen and Tyler were only the firdt ones to suffer this war. Hand over yourself and the albinos and no one else has to get hurt. Fire three flares if you agree to our wishes. If by the crack of dawn in two days' time, we do not hear any response, the war must go on. Your choice, Elaine Chernoble. We await your response." The paper crumbled and almost ripped from Elaine's tight grip. Loosening her grip, she inhaled, counted to ten and exhaled loudly to calm herself before she did something she might regret. "Alaska, i want you guarding my tent. No one, besides me, you, Gina, and Jim, are allowed in," she mindlinked, trying to keep the panic and anger at bay. Still holding the note, she marched to Faust's office, only to find Faust and Keller heavily making out. They pulled away when the door hit the wall with a loud slam. Elaine ignored the scene, but smirked at Faust. "I found this pinned on a tree near the house. I want to know how someone got past your guards and somehow put this there without being seen. Either the messenger is real sneaky, or one of your guards let them pass through," she said, just as Keller walked past her and out the office, closing thedoor behind her. Faust cleared his throat and stated, "I don't like your accusations against my men, but unfotunately, I agree with you. How could anyone have gotten through to kill Tyler? My best guess is someone killed him for Kylie. The person was most likely someone he knew or he wouldn't have followed the person." She nodded, thinking of all the possible people. She looked up and stared at Faust, "Does Kylie have any family here or a mate?" Faust's eyes widened. He suddenly stood up and left the room. Confused, Elaine followed after the rushing Alpha. "Sometimes, there are families who prefer living out of the pack house, so I had a couple of cabins set up east of the border. We need to get there fast, hop on," he said before he shifted into a large light brown wolf. Elaine climbed on Faust's back and hefted her spear to her back. And the pair set off. They were a blur as they passed through the forest. Faust slowed down to a stop in front of a small one-storey cabin. Elaine stepped down, held her spear and surveyed their surroundings while Faust shifted behind the trees. It was quiet, too quiet. From the house, she heard something fall and someone shuffling around. She walked quietly to the front door, Faust following behind. He knocked three times before saying, "Karl, open the door." Using his Alpha command, Karl wouldn't be able to disobey. The door opened and revealed a carbon copy of. Kylie, except a guy and younger. "This is Karl, Kylie's younger brother. May we come in?" Faust asked, disguising the order in a question. Karl gave a stiff nod and opened the door wider, stealthily hiding his bloodstained hands into his long sleeves. When he turned his back on the Alphas, Faust sniffed the air and recognizing the metallic smell, he mouthed "blood" to Elaine. She nodded and gripped her spear tighter. Karl led them to a cozy looking living room, the mantel filled with family pictures. "Sit down and make yourselves comfortable, Alphas. If I may ask, why the sudden visit? No one's been around since Kylie escaped," he said, his voice filling with bitterness at the end. He was fidgeting under the Alphas' scrutinizing stare and he tugged on the sleeves to further cover his hands. Elaine noticed the movement and narrowed her eyes at the boy. Sweat beads trickled down the sides of his head and on the bridge of his nose. His eyes darted around, never staying on one object for long. Elaine scoffed, "Cut the crap, Karl. We know Kylie had you kill Tyler." She opened her mouth to say more when he jumped up and ran out the door. Her instincts kicked in and she immediately ran after him. She caught up with him just as he was loading a flare gun. Hitting it away with the end of her spear, she brought it up again and hit his face. He grunted and dropped the flare gun. She twirled her spear and pointed the blade at. Karl. "Your bitch of a sister has caused a lot of trouble, don't be a pain in the ass too," she said before she lunged and slashed at his leg. She spun around and was behind him in a flash. She kicked him in the back of his knee and he buckled. Wasting no time, she dropped her spear and grabbed Karl's head in a headlock. "Confess and I won't have to kill you, which I should've done to your sister before," she said. He was clawing at her arms and then reached behind him to claw at her face. She tilted her head away, which turned out to be a bad move. He pulled out a syringe and she felt the prick on her neck, before everything became blurry. She let go of Karl and stumbled to the ground, clutching her head. Through blurry vision, she saw Karl stand and take her spear. He raised the spear and made to bring it down, but then a red mass of fur headbutted him out of the way. She could hear someone shouting at her to keep her eyes open, then she felt something cold go through her veins. She shivered. "Cold," she stuttered out, before she felt fur press against her side. Elaine welcomed the warmth and snuggled into it, closing her eyes, ignoring the woman's voice telling her not to. "Sleepy," was the last thing she said before everything went dark.