Chapter 83

**Seth

I lay there hoping that if I was going to die that whoever was behind it would show themselves. That they would not be cowards.

“Coward is not a polite word Seth, especially when I have chosen you to help.” It was a female voice. “Before your mind can race to anymore ideas that are too far-fetched allow me to ease it some. One you are not going to die, well at least not here and now and not by me. Two yes, I am in your head, I can hear every thought that you are having. Your mind link will not work at the moment either. However, I am hoping that after we are finished here that you will go to Jasper and give him this little message for me. What do you say? We make a deal, since I am letting you live, you can do this for me?”

“Who are you and why what would you want me to deliver that you clearly could do yourself? If you are no harm to me then why all the theatrics?” I asked? Though my curiosity was peeked so was my temper. What the hell was this about?

“I enjoy it, and I am doing myself a favor by staying out of the spotlight so to speak. You, however, are indeed wasting time, do you want this deal or not?”

“If it is what's best for me and Jasper, yes I will take the deal.” I snorted back at her.

“Good, now listen. You are the only one of the Alphas that he is going to trust right now. There is indeed a war coming, in fact he has more than one headed his way. Most he knows about, but what he doesnt know is they are not all connected. He is looking for a link that isn't there. Yes, it all comes back to the witches, but they have laid out plans that caused feuds like the one started in there with the other Alphas. Each problem will come at him on different levels. He is leaving the city; he needs to hold fast to that. It is not safe here and he won't win from inside the city. Cortlyn's kidnapping is not the same as your children. She has been taken by another. She is alive for the moment. Seth, you need to have Moon

Branch ready to go to war with him. His daughter will fulfill the prophecy. Go and tell him. Time is running out; the enemy is at his door. Take his family, and trusted allies and leave the city.”

Before I had time to respond I was again in the alley and could see everything. Or nothing which way you looked at it. Who would need to keep themselves out of the light about warning us of an attack. I wasn't convinced that after what had happened earlier at his place that he would want to hear from any of the Alphas including me, but if these things were true then he needed to know. If they weren’t well at least he knew that someone was trying to cover something up. It was a chance that I was going to take regardless. Before I headed anywhere else though, I was calling my betas to at least be in the car and close to me from here out. I wasn't going to die at the hands of a witch alone.

**Jasper

“Samual, do you think that leaving the city is the right thing to do. I know that in order to defeat all that we are up against that we need a place to make a stand, but is leaving Oak Bane here really the best thing I can do as their Alpha? It feels like I am failing them. If I cannot even keep those inside this house safe, then how will I ever lead them to what needs to be done? Am I already defeated before the war can arrive?” I was lost and had such a heavy heart. A heavy heart with so many emotions that I felt like I was going to burst. Things were happening too fast and not fast enough all at the same time.

“Sir, there is no right and wrong thing to do here. It is a matter of getting ahead of what is coming. In order to do that we must regroup. The pack may come later, but we aren't leaving them unprepared. They have known things have been unsettling for months now. Since the spell over you was broken. The details are limited to a need to know as well as most of the business of an Alpha. You are doing what needs to be done, and that is all a good Alpha can do.” Samual was wise beyond my years, and I hoped that when this thing was over, he would agree to stay with Oak Bane. He would be great for us and belonging again would be great for him and Chance.

“Thank you, Samual. For everything that you have done for the past few months. I know that I have said it recently, but I need you to know that you have saved my life in more ways than one. I need you to stay with me when all this is over. You and Chance can have a home with us.” I knew that I had already offered this but in light of what may happen I needed him to know that I was serious.

He looked conflicted but before we could get into anything else Marcel was at the door. “My apologies Sir, but you have a visitor at the front door. Do I let them in?”

Samual and I went on alert. Who was here? No one was expected and we all had our own plans until Nell could get us ready to go.

“Do you know who it is Marcel?” Samual asked.

“Appears to be Alpha Seth Sir.” Well of all the Alphas to come back this could have been worse.

“Yes, let him into the sitting area. We will meet him there. Thank you, Marcel.”

I wasn't sure what he could be back for other than bad news. I got the feeling in the meeting that he disagreed with Stephen, but at the rate I had been losing people I could really trust, I was unsure.

“What do you think this is about?” i aske Samual.

“Not sure boss, but I think we should listen to him. I think that we could trust him. That is if he is still Seth.” I hadn’t missed the uncertain tone in his voice. I felt the same way, so I understood it. I only gave him a knowing nod and we went to meet with Seth.

Jackson and Mera had arrived back at the house and looked to be in good spirits.

“How did your adventure go?” I asked them as we paused in the kitchen.

“It went we have what we went after and to a great relief it went without a problem.” Mera said. “Where are you two heading?” She was observant I had to give her that.

“Alpha Seth has returned and requested to see me. We are not sure what is going on. I am glad you are back though, Jackson do you mind joining us. Maybe you could get a read on him. He isn't aware of your gifts and may let something slip if he is let's say not himself.” I knew that Jackson would understand where I was going with it.

“I would be glad to. Mer, go see if Nell is ready to get started. I still think that we need to get out of here as soon as we can.” Jackson looked at Mera as if giving her a secret message. I wasn’t sure if they were keeping things from us or not and right now, I didn’t have time to worry about it.

“Let’s go.” Samual said, leading the way to the sitting room.

Seth was standing clearly uncomfortable about being here. He was alone, which was odd.

“Seth, good to see you again. Pardon me though, what could bring you back here so soon?” I asked.

“I am sorry for needing to be here, but I am afraid that there are several things that you need to know.

“You came alone to give Alpha Jasper this information?” Jackson asked. It took Seth a moment to see where he stood in the eyes of Jackson. Jackson didn't back down from the challenge though and stood firmly in place. Once the standoff was finished Seth spoke.

“You already know Alphas Jasper, that Stephen is ready to go to war against you. He is trying to convince the other Alphas as well. He believes that you have our children. I never thought that and now I believe that I was right. I left the meeting to follow someone out who was out of place there. I found myself in the presence of a witch.” Each one of us stiffened at this news. We knew that the witches were everywhere. Would they be bold enough to take over someone and have them walk right into us? My thoughts were “Yes.”

“I am unsure of what she really wanted, but she gave me a message for you. Or maybe more of a warning. Not all things are what they seem.” As Seth went through the events that had just taken place, I watched Jackson to see if he was picking up on anything. He stayed stone faced until Seth was finished.

“It sounds like the same witch who warned me to keep Cortlyn out of the city. If we have someone on that side really looking out for us regardless of the why, I think that we should listen to them. Everything that he has just said really happened.” Jackson looked and sounded confident in what he was saying and that was good enough for me.