I took Blade's thick right arm with my left gently as he, Lilly, and I began our way out of my room in uncomfortable silence, though it seemed to me that Lilly and Blade were quite comfortable with the volume. Turning right out of my miniature hallway, the only door available being mine at the very end, we neared the large transparent window. Unnoticeably peering out into the yard below, I figured we were 2 stories up from the ground. In the fleeting seconds I managed to look, I saw lush dark green grass carpeting the yard, and wide stone steps leading from the yard onto a patio. Surrounding the yard were magnificent pine trees reaching high into the slowly brightening sky.

Blade held fast onto my arm as we descended the wide staircase, holding onto the banister as we went. Turning right to go down the second part of the steps, Blade spoke up.

"Now, there will be many different members of our pack here this morning, but they will leave as the hours pass to do their jobs," he looks over at me. "As you know, we are all Rouges, but we have formed a close knit community here. What we're in right now is the Pack House/my house. The third floor, where we were all just at, is mine personally. I house myself and my close friends and guests there."

"But, isn't this the ground floor?" I asked confused as we stepped out into a large room with couches and a Flatscreen TV occupying it. Must be a living room, I concluded. Blade chuckled. How was that funny..?

"No. My floor, the third, is right above this one. What we're on now is the second, which is also ground level, as you said. We have a large basement right underneath us that we use as storage space and training, like a gym. We consider that as the first floor."

"Oh.." I realized, and my cheeks heated at his light laughter.

As I let go of his arm and glanced around the expansive room, boisterous laughter echoed out from a sizable doorway leading into another part of the house. Looking at Lilly to the left of me expectantly, she shrugged.

"They're a rowdy bunch," she said simply, walking past Blade and I into the other room.

"Just be yourself, okay Ellie? They'll love you, I promise," he assured. For some reason, the way he said 'Ellie' both comforted and nauseated me.

'It disgusts you because he kidnapped you, and relaxes you because he reminds you of Tiberius in a way,' Nikita spoke up suddenly. Well that makes much more sense.

I nodded to Blade. Giving me an encouraging smile, he led the way through the doorway into a spacious dining room. The dining room had a tall ceiling with support beams and fans, a bone white deer antler chandelier hanging above a long rectangular dining table filled with laughing people. Lilly sat inbetween a young man with long brown hair and a girl with blonde.

Blade cleared his throat loudly, successfully gaining everyone's attention. Stopping their conversations and eying me with curiosity, Blade saved me from my creeping blush. In that moment I remembered what I was wearing, and how I must look. Still in my sweat suit with my hair in curly ringlets from last night, I must look like a bad after affect of prom night! Remember, Ellie. You're the Luna of the Wolf Territories. You're strong, and you're smart. You can do this.

"Attention, everyone. May I introduce to you Luna Elenore Burns!" Howling and cheering erupted from the small crowd. Trying to contain my grateful grin, a muscular man with facial hair along his jawline yelled out:

"Well it sure took ya long enough, Blade!" he teased and laughed, causing the entire table to join in. Rolling his eyes playfully, Blade placed his right hand on the small of my back and motioned to the end of the table with his left. With a gentle push, he guided me to the seat where I would normally sit at in the Alpha Mansion; beside Tiberius. Pushing the seat in after I sat, he took his at the head.

Everyone seemed to give eachother a mischievous smirk, locking eye contact with eachother from different parts of the table. Even Blade was glancing at different people and smiling slyly. What's going on..

Blade then brought both of his fists up a foot or so above the table. Quirking the corner of his lips up, he regarded us all again once more before slamming both fists down onto the surface. Flinching in surprise from his sudden and loud movement, I was shocked again by the chorus of pounding from everyone else at the table. In unison, they were all beating on the heavy slab of wood, chanting 'Rouge' over and over again. Looking to my left at Blade once again, I saw him already smiling at me. Shooting him a confused, but pleased, look, he just shook his head as if to say "I'll tell you later."

After about 40 seconds of the chanting, 2 double doors swung open to reveal three middle aged women carrying platters of breakfast foods. The Wolves around me stopped abusing the battered table and instead started to cheer merrily at the sights of different meats and breakfast cakes infront of them. Smiling at their silliness, I was delightfully astounded as each and every one of them thanked the women, some even addressing them by their first names. I thanked the brown haired woman who served me also, of course, who said her name was Jaycee.

Immediately after beginning to eat, many different man and women started light, friendly conversations with me, speaking of things from my favorite movies to what sandwich I like the best. I found out that the man who had spoken outloud earlier, the one with the facial hair along his jaw, was Blade's new Beta. I didn't ask what happened to the old one, though, because I had a feeling I didn't want to know. Enjoying the juicy sausage and hashbrowns, I couldn't keep my mind of of Tiberius. What was he doing right now? Is he safe? Is he eating enough? I also thought about my mother and Isaac. By now Tiberius must've called them and explained the ambush from last night. Is mother sleeping well? Has Isaac found his mate yet? Will I ever see them again?

Thinking about this, I suddenly lost my appetite. Setting the sausage link down on my plate, I tried to hold back the tears.

~Tiberius POV~

One day.

One day without my mate and I've already gone half mad! This morning I called Elenore's mother and brother, explaining them of the attack and darts, and how their only daughter and sister was kidnapped by my deranged brother. Annabelle knew of Blade well, since she grew up with monthly updates of the 'Royal Brothers'. Isaac too knew of him, but not near as well since he's only 21.

"Alpha Connall!" a muffled voice called out to me from the other side of my office door. "Isaac and Annabelle Burns have arrived, Sir."

Nodding until I realized they couldn't see me, I responded. "Thank you. I'll be right out!" Sighing, I stood up from my chair and popped my neck. This should be fun.

Before I even entered the living room, I could hear Mrs. Burn's frantic voice trying to pry any information from Gail's mind.

"Mrs. Burns, I cannot tell you anything! Alpha Connall is on his way, so ask him," Gail explained exasperatedly.

"But-" she began, but I cut her off.

"Mrs. Burns," I said, extending my right hand for a handshake. "I would say it's a pleasure to finally meet you, but under the circumstances I don't think it would be true." Nodding her head, I shook hands with Isaac as well who has a straight face on. It brought me back to the time when I first met him and Elenore in their booth, how he was so strict and emotionless towards me.

"Mrs. Burns-"

"Annabelle. Please, call me Annabelle."

"Annabelle," I corrected myself gratefully. "I've already sent out fighters and Hounds to scout the surrounding territories, and Gail has asked every pack in the Wolf Territories to watch out for any Rouges, or Blade," I explained, hoping it would calm her nerves slightly. Nodding, she was about to speak when Isaac beat her to it.

"What about the Mate-mind link? Since you two are true mates, shouldn't your brainwaves be able to pick her up from wherever she is and speak to her?"

I shook my head regrettably. "No. The mind link for regular wolves can only go so far, and the same goes for Mate connections. Mate connections can stretch for a maximum of 50 miles, and me being a Connall Alpha increases the strength. That means that she has to be over 65 miles away," I said, watching Annabelle's hopeful blue eyes fade to a dull gray once again. After a moment of silence, I added: "Gail will see you to your rooms. I take it you both will be housing here for the rest of the hunt?"

They both nodded their heads. "Right then, well Gail?" I asked, catching his attention. "Please show them 2 rooms in the Alpha Hall." Nodding, he escorted Annabelle and Isaac upstairs. Shooting me a secretive overwhelmed glance before rounding the corner, I smiled slightly.

What's happening to Elenore right now? Is she well fed? Treated good? I swear to Goddess, if a single fucking PAW is laid on her I will murder them myself!

Earlier this morning we figured out that one of the maids, Lilly, was missing. After further investigation and several hounds later, we found out that she had left willingly, for her small paw prints led straight into the woods after the human's bare ones. We had a spy in our house the entire time.

Snorting in anger, I tried once again to reach Ellie through Mind link with no such success.

Don't worry, Ellie. I will find you.