The casserole was finished by the time Hannes returned, and it was shared amongst everyone in the home. Willow had made some protests about eating it, but eventually was persuaded by Athena to do so.

The smell of the food was wondrous, and making it was relatively easy. I'd ensured to pay much attention to it whilst it was being cooked, and had winced internally throughout that time as I'd remembered what had happened yesterday.

"You made this, mother?" Hannes asked at one point after taking several bites of the food and seeming pleased by the flavor. Athena glanced at me.

"Olivia and myself did. Doesn't it look and taste delicious?"

I narrowed my eyes at Hannes when it became evident that he was resisting laughing, and I waited for him to speak about me accidentally allowing the cookies to burn. However, he didn't dare, and kept his attention on the food placed before him.

"Yes, it does." Hannes replied, after clearing his throat and appearing to manage to swallow down his laughter.

I quickly ate my meal and it was only after Hannes had finished eating his own that I declared that I would be going on a short walk. Immediate wariness caught ahold of Hannes' expression and he stood, chair dragging noisily backwards against the wooden floor. Willow and Jeremiah straightened from where they were seated, and looked between us, waiting.

"How far do you intend to go?" Hannes was adjusting the collar of his white dress-shirt as he asked this, eyes running up and down my body, as if now noticing that the clothes I wore suited the outside weather.

"Not too far." I was beginning to back away, my eyes drifting to the window, noticing the lack of people outside passing by the house. Jeremiah and Willow climbed to their feet, and the male lycan glanced at Hannes who'd sent me an almost agitated look at my short answer.

"Will I call on the other warriors to join us, Alpha?" Jeremiah asked, wiping his fingers along a napkin to rid any remnants of the food lingering on them.

"Yes." Hannes said after a pause. He glanced at Jeremiah and nodded. "Please do."

Athena was leaning back in her chair, arms folded loosely on her chest, breathing slow and eyes twinkling; the picture of pure relaxation. "You all go along. I'll clean up soon."

"Thank you." I was already beginning to turn away as I spoke, eager to leave the home. I knew that Skylar had recommended that I rest, but I was feeling so much better than I had previously.

I was surprised by how quickly Herni, Frederick and Elle had arrived, and they were waiting patiently for us once we left the house. Little was said as Hannes and I began walking, but I did notice that Willow and Elle walked just a few feet ahead of us whilst Henri, Frederick and Jeremiah walked behind us, but certainly not too far away.

I was enjoying the cold wind and the sight of the grey, gloomy sky when Hannes firstly touched my right arm, shaking his head when he lifted my wrist and brought my fingers, which I hadn't even noticed had been trembling from the cold until then, to his mouth, blowing warm air against them. I immediately began to wiggle my fingers from his grip, noticing that the few who were outside were watching curiously, but Hannes refused to relent despite me becoming flustered.

"Should have worn gloves, Liv." I heard the laughter between his words when I finally managed to pull my fingers from him, and tucked my arm through his own instead.

"What did you talk with Elijah about this morning?" I asked.

Almost immediately I felt Hannes tense, but he carried on looking ahead, the pace of his walk slowing so that he could match my own. I glanced around me, attempting to see if the warriors near us had heard my question and were trying to listen, but they looked far too concentrated on our surroundings instead.

"We discussed the Corozal people." Hannes revealed, tersely, and almost reluctantly. "And the Alberrechians."

I too tensed. "Are they near the pack?"

"No. However, reports from a pack in the southern area have said that they've come across several of them near their territory. It seemed as if they were trying to gauge how aware the guards are, or seeking to find any possible areas that would allow them to easily slip into the pack without being caught."

I frowned, almost tripping when I walked through a fairly large clump of snow. I released Hannes' arm and thrusted my hands in my pockets, eyes lifting to the many trees around us, as usual. This pack is in the woods after all. "And they were caught."

"Yes," Hannes nodded his head to a passer-by as he spoke to me. "They claimed that they were not working together, but I highly doubt that. I can think of many supposed beneficial advantages that they could perceive to gain if they chose to do so. And, they all share, for the most part, the same thoughts and sentiments regarding lycans."

I nodded. "I remember that you said something along the lines about the corozal people and Alberrechians sharing similar beliefs, I think."

We carried on walking in silence, and when we began to reach where I often trekked to go to the tree stump, we turned and began making our way back.

"You were kidnapped by the Alberrechian people, yes?"

Hannes' face became void of any expression when I asked him this, but I could tell by his eyes that he was thinking hard. "Yes. I told you that."

"You did." I walked closer to him, still wondering in the back of my mind if the warriors were listening in, but once again, it did not appear that they were. I hesitated to speak further, as I wasn't sure if Hannes was entirely comfortable about that topic, but quietly said, "I have a few questions about that, if you don't mind."

Amusement filled Hannes' eyes, as if my words somehow entertained him and he nodded for me to go ahead. I asked immediately,

"What did they do to you in the lab?"

Hannes didn't hesitate to answer. "Nothing, really. I'd been beaten badly before being brought to the lab and had spent the first week inside of it recovering, without any medical assistance, of course. Food and water was given scarcely." Hannes exhaled slowly, and held my hand firmly as we carried on walking. "They had wanted a message to be shown, and they'd succeeded in doing so."

"What message?" I asked.

"Well," Hannes frowned, hesitated and almost unconsciously squeezed my hand tighter. "My father had boasted of Wildeland having the best security, and of the warriors being able to outsmart and easily catch any Alberrechians if they chose to enter the pack. That evidently failed, because I was kidnapped in my territory. It was later revealed that they had used several strategic ways to get into the pack. The Alberrechians are not to be underestimated, and they proved my father this."

"How did you manage to escape them?"

"The Alberrechians abruptly deserted the area in which they were living in, and I was left in the lab. I suspected that there was some type of gas inside the lab that significantly weakened any possibility of me being able to mind-link throughout the time I was in there. However, for whatever reason, they'd unlocked the door of the lab the day they left and I didn't realize that until they were long gone." Hannes' eyes rested on Willow's back. "So, after five months, I left the lab and the building, but collapsed after running several miles. Willow and Jeremiah had found me and brought me back to Wildeland."

My eyes too came to rest on Willow's back. Her head tilted in our direction at the mentioning of her name and her smile was so fast that I almost missed it.

"They were...adults, I'm assuming?" I kept my voice low, but Willow heard nonetheless, and I heard her scoff before Hannes answered.

"Yes. They were."

So Jeremiah and Willow were older than they looked. I should have guessed that, because there was a certain 'older' or very mature attitude, at times, that they both had, when they weren't bickering between themselves that is.

"All of this had happened a year before my father was killed." Hannes added. "And the persons who kidnapped me are more than likely, still alive."

"Do you think about him often?" I asked gently. "Your father?"

Hannes became silent, and I waited, saying nothing as we carried on walking. It was only when we neared the house that he responded. "I do. Not daily, but often nonetheless. I have a lot of good memories with him."

I nodded, and Elle suddenly spoke, startling us. "I believe these people would like to speak to one or both of you."

I followed to where she gestured with her thumb, and saw that it was both Helda and Yanneek who she was referring to. Protective stances were made, and I saw the annoyance that coated Helda's gaze as they came to stand before us.

"It's alright." I called, stepping forward, almost forgetting that I still held onto Hannes' hand. Yanneek's eyes immediately lowered to our hands, and I didn't miss the tense lines that formed around the corners of his lips as he resisted frowning. Helda too looked slightly displeased, but I wasn't sure why.

"You look better." Yanneek commented, a genuine smile appearing on his face. "We were wondering if you'd like to visit my home for supper tomorrow evening? Helda, of course will be coming as well, and I'm planning on inviting others."

I immediately smiled. "I would love to come." I heard Jeremiah clear his throat behind me, and I paused. I glanced over my shoulder to him, and he raised his eyebrows high. I understood the unspoken message. "Right."

I faced Yanneek. "Everyone else would have to come, though."

Helda looked confused. "Everyone else?"

"Perhaps not everyone," I looked at Hannes, who just watched me, and then he stared at Helda, the look in his eyes almost scathing. I went on, "But Willow and Jeremiah may need to attend."

"Why?" Helda muttered, sarcastically. "Are they your body guards?"

"Somewhat." Willow spoke up. Helda's eyes sharpened, but she ducked her head. However, when it lifted, I was surprised by the disappointment on her face.

"Do you think that we would harm you, Olivia?"

Hannes suddenly gripped my hand tightly, and I began shaking my head, opening my mouth to explain, but Yanneek held a hand up, dismissing any possible words.

"Never mind, Olivia. If you can't come without them, I'd rather you not come at all." He thrusted his chin to Willow and Jeremiah as he emphasized them.

I swallowed thickly, a slight sting crawling along the skin of my face as I watched them walk away before I could utter any other words. I was baffled. I'd never meant to hurt them, but it was important that Willow and Jeremiah be present if I were to come to Yanneek's home, especially because they were inviting others in the pack. The person who wanted me dead could easily be amongst them, and I am not able to completely protect myself if something happened.

"Have a good afternoon." Elle's words brought me out of my thoughts, and I exhaled slowly, not bothering to smile. It would have looked too forced and obviously not genuine. She nonetheless gave me a reassuring look, and joined her brother and Henri as they left.

"Something is off about them." Hannes told me after we entered the house, with Jeremiah and Willow close behind. They walked ahead when Hannes and I paused by the door to take off our shoes, and I momentarily pulled at my wet socks before deciding to yank them off. Snow had gotten into the boots at some point.

"What do you mean?" I asked, half-distractedly as I balled the socks in one hand, grimacing at the wetness of them.

Hannes took off his coat, and looked at me, his stare heavy. "Yanneek's attitude is one in which I haven't seen him express throughout the time that he's stayed in the pack. Something is deeply bothering him."

"I do not know Helda well enough to comment too much about her," Hannes carried on. "But her coldness towards you is troubling."

I frowned at that. Helda had seemed more disappointed than cold, but perhaps Hannes was seeing something I hadn't picked up on. I rubbed a hand against my temple, and I felt wariness settle in my stomach.