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Ariel's POV

Ana's panicked voice comes over the link. 'It's happening! Someone's doing something!'

Everyone is quick to get to the cameras. Myself being practically pushed over as Parker shoves his face into the screen.

"Who the fuck is that?" He asks.

"Um... it's a man." Justin replies. "But I can't see much more cause your face is in the way."

I roll my eyes and pull Parker back, watching the guy leave the pack house- it's two AM, could you make it anymore obvious. "Put trackers on him."

I collapse onto a chair and lean back. "Who is that?"

"Leroy." Aubrey says slowly.

"What? He's in your pack Aubrey. It can't be him." I reply.

"Ariel... where's your phone?"

"What? Why?"

"Do you still always carry it with you?"

"No... I leave it in the bathroom most of the time? I mean... I have it with me sometimes." I don't understand what he's supposed to be getting at.

He leaves for a moment and comes back with my phone and we all watch as he pulls a recording chip off it. "They got their plans through this."

I watch as he crushes it. "Did you have your phone on you when you made the new plan?"

"No!" I shake my head.

"Good. Then he shouldn't know the new plan." Aubrey replies.

I hardly hear him, my mind on the chip in my phone. All the stuff he would have heard, when I cried myself to sleep or when I felt what they did to Raphael. All my breakdowns...

"I'm going to bed." I whisper. "I'll talk to Leroy in the morning."

I walk back to my room like a zombie and change into pajamas. My motions are slow and in shock. I didn't care that he heard all the plans but he heard such personal moments. The other pack might have too...

But why didn't Leroy just give the other pack the recording device so they could hear themselves? Maybe it didn't reach that far... whatever the reason my brain ached at the thought my privacy had been so compromised.

I curl up in a ball in bed and I hear someone walk in but I hardly pay attention. I just... feel so exposed.

"Ariel..." Aubrey says softly. He sits beside me and hugs me. "We're getting Raphael back. I promise."

I just nod a little and fall asleep in his embrace.

Waking up my mind is set on Leroy. I'm going to kill him. I walk downstairs where my friends have already gathered.

"He told them the fake plan," Parker informs.

"He's in a cell now," Justin adds.

I nod darkly and walk out. My wolf and I working as one. And we would have stayed that way if it were not for my mother barreling into me with a hug.

"Mom!?" I gasp in surprise as I'm squeezed to death.

"Baby girl I'm so sorry. I'm so so so sorry. Darren didn't tell me any of this because he was scared I'd come fight with you- I mean of course I would! But your father is so mean sometimes."

I agree with him. Mom is too... fragile. She can't fight. But her being here... my emotions cave in on me and I start to cry into her shoulder. I hug her back, too tightly but she doesn't say anything in response.

"Oh it's okay baby girl," she says softly. "You're so strong."

Dad comes up and puts a hand on my back. When I've pulled away from mom his expression is a painful one. "I know how you feel Ariel, we'll get Raphael back. I promise."

I should have told them sooner. I should have known they would drop everything to come help me. I wish I had, then we could have resolved this quicker.

My mind drifts to Leroy. I'm angry, I'm boiling at the seams, but now that dad's here, we can fine tune my plan and that's more important.

My dad seems to be thinking the same thing, "let's go save Raphael."

I nod. "Let's."

***

I glance to either side of me. My father and brother on one side, my thirds on the other. All commanding our own packs through the link as I focus my attention on keeping my wolf calm. My anxiety and depression of not having Raphael had grown to a point where getting out of bed was the hardest part of my day.

Aubrey, Parker or Justin were always there to help coax me out. My wolf had the same feelings as I did, resulting in me feeling double the pain.

Mom was allowed to come, but not allowed to fight. She decided to help wounded wolves since we wouldn't let her fight. Not that she was a bad fighter, she was quite good if her wolf took control, but if her wolf didn't, she was just hopeless.

I can feel my heart pounding against my chest almost painfully. Almost there Raphael... Raphie... I'm not going anywhere without you this time. If there's a retreat... I'll never be able to go away from him again. My body can't take it anymore, it's both a physical and mental toll.

"Ariel the plan's underway..." Parker says quietly. So that means my very brave betas, who offered to go in with the alpha of another pack, have started. Their goal was to get inside and cause confusion or havoc- somehow get everyone outside the pack house, confused and hopefully not expecting our attack.

Of course, my wolves were instructed not to kill anyone if they could avoid it. Also instructed against harming the women and children who didn't fight.

I open my link to my betas, waiting both patiently and impatiently, my heart pounding but my mind ready. Then I get the word,

'Everyone's out.'

I send the next group of wolves to start the attack and then, I start my way to where I know Raphael is. They never moved him...

I get to see him. I will get to see him, just stick to our plan. Everything inside is urging me to get to Raphael, to screw the plan. But last time that went terribly. This time has to work.

I close my eyes tightly, waiting for the next move. It takes what seems like hours upon hours, really only maybe half an hour, for our next wave of wolves to pile into the fight. Further shocking the other pack.

Now I can go.

I'm followed by my thirds and my family, save my mom of course, towards the packs dungeon. My heart racing, feeling like it's about to rip out my chest. I know they're ready for me there. I want them to be.

As soon as the building comes into view I'm attacked. Wolves flying out from behind bushes. Of course, I could smell them easy so I paid hardly any mind to them. I wasn't going to fight them yet, I have to get Raphie first. My thirds fend them away, Parker eager to show his new moves.

I storm into the pack prison, plowing down the stairs, throwing opposing wolves out of my way. My brother and father following close behind.

I need to get to Raphael. I have to- I scream in agony, tumbling down the rest of the stairs. Aubrey and my dad too shocked to have even caught me. My head smacks against the floor so hard my world spins. But I can see them, torturing Raphael in a new manner.

Raphie... my brave, strong mate is hardly making a sound as they burn him. They are using a fire poker and heating it before shoving it into him. How Raphael get by with only biting his lip, I may never know. But our gazes lock... and i can see the pain in his eyes. Those aren't the eyes I used to know.

"Well if it isn't Ariel," comes a smooth dark voice.

As I'm working my way up from the initial shock of the pain and my tumble down the stairs, he steps into vision. Aubrey stands in front of me as dad pulls me to my feet.

He's the stupid alpha of the other pack, the one who's name doesn't deserve to be said. He's the mutt who wants me dead.