The Transfer

I looked to Nicolas. He opened his book, revealing the notes he had previously taken. They were all about the rogue attacks and sightings. He had been keeping track of what was happening.

His messy handwriting was scribbled all over the pages, filling up every inch of the white notebook. I realised that not only was he taking notes of the events occurring, but he was trying to link them together too.

He'd done a lot of work.

"Takiani is not the only one experiencing random and dangerous rogue attacks and sightings. There have been numerous attempted and successful kidnappings also," Nicolas started. Everyone looked confused at his words.

Things were about to make a lot more sense.

"The first number of sightings were up in Rohan's pack about four months ago. There had been about three rogues spotted along the border. It was written off as a one time thing, since there was no scent to trace the rogues, but the sightings became more frequent over the following two weeks," Nicolas continued. He was reading the facts from his book. I hadn't yet heard this information.

I was pretty sure that Rohan was some other Alpha not too far from Takiani. I wasn't too sure.

I was a little nervous. Everyone was going to react differently to the information they were about to hear. I wanted to get the right reactions.

"Two weeks after the first few sightings, Rohan's youngest son was taken during the night in his sleep. He was killed, his body found near the border the next morning. Their best trackers searched for days. Found nothing,” Nicolas said. He spoke clearly and slowly enough for everyone to process the information.

I fiddled with my fingers. I glanced at my brothers. Beckett was giving me a confused look. He would understand soon.

"From that point, sightings weren't as frequent and there weren't any other attacks. But issues started up in the south. There were sightings at first, and then two separate attacks on a group of teenagers going for a swim in one of the lakes. We found a scent but it lead us nowhere. Another dead end," Nicolas continued. My brothers stiffened at the mention of our family's home being invaded by rogues.

"Down north, where I come from, there were sightings. There was one attack, recently. A child, my nephew, was taken from outside his house by a group of rogues. Lucky for us, Alison was there to save him before he got hurt or taken. Strangely enough, when we went looking for the rogues that were killed, their bodies were gone,” Nicolas explained, offering me a small smile. I glanced at Mason who was smiling at me also.

"There have been a significant number of sightings and attacks in Takiani and a lot of sightings here in Terialta, where the most recent sighting was yesterday morning,” Christian finally spoke up. Everyone looked a little shocked at his words.

I was a little shocked too. I hadn't realised that the most recent sighting was only the day before. It made me more anxious and nervous.

"Does anyone know what was the same in every story?" Nicolas finally breathed out. I glanced around at everyone. They were all exchanging looks with each other before Samaya finally cleared his throat.

"There was no scent to trace,” Samaya said, his words dreadful. He sounded like he had just come across a realisation of some sort. He was beginning to understand.

"Exactly. Each time there were attacks or sightings in any pack, the security was tightened and people were restricted to going places by themselves. Right?" Nicolas said, flicking through the pages of his book. His beast was buzzing. He wanted to know more. He wanted answers.

"Takiani is the only pack who's security hasn't changed in the past months, and the only pack who's had more than one attack,” Nicolas stated firmly to everyone. My brothers glanced at each other, and Ezra sighed and sat back in his seat.

"You think the problem is Henry, don't you?" Ezra asked. Nicolas said nothing, but he shrugged Everyone knew that was what he was thinking.

"Everyone here has recently been made aware of what happened that night with the rogue child and Henry murdering him in cold blood. Thanks Ezra... for filling everyone in by the way," Nicolas cleared his throat. He spoke so calmly and he knew exactly what he was saying. He was a great Alpha.

My skin crawled uncomfortably at the mention of the rogue child and his murder. I still couldn't help but be sensitive about it.

"Even after having a rogue wonder into the territory and make it so close to the pack unnoticed, security remains the same. Not a single thing has changed. Henry has not even shown interest in the fact that his pack is being invaded. Matter of fact, when I called this meeting, he said that it was unnecessary," Nicolas shrugged at all of us. My beast growled angrily.

She despised Henry. I did too. For an Alpha, he acted like a child.

"What are you saying here, Nicolas?" Lauri piped up. I watched Beckett's grip on her waist tighten a little. He was incredibly protective over her.

Nicolas cleared his throat and looked at me. I cleared my throat too and sat forwards in my seat. "We think Henry might have something to do with the attacks and sightings,” I said.

Leon started to shake his head. I wasn't sure if he was doubting it or if he was confused. "How? How could he be involved?”

"Think about it. An Alpha cares about his pack more than anything. They know damn well that they'd be nothing without their pack. A good Alpha would give their damn life to save their pack. Right, Nic?" I looked to Nicolas. He nodded at me to confirm my statement.

"Henry is the only one out of all the Alphas in this area that thinks we don't have a rogue problem. He isn't worried about the pack and he certainly wasn't worried when Ezra and I were attacked in the woods that one time. Plus, he cared more about threatening me that one night when I found the rogue child,” I explained to them. Everyone stared at me intensely.

"He said you tried to attack him, that you challenged him on his decisions,” Lila said, her voice soft and almost fragile. I frowned at her and glanced away towards Lucas and Leon. They nodded at me. What?

"He told people that you wanted to keep the rogue living in the pack and adopt him. He said that when he told you no, you went crazy and attacked him. Apparently Alfie had to pin you down to keep you from killing everyone in the room," Lucas explained. He sounded hurt.

My beast growled and I bit back my own growl. Henry had lied to everyone. He had told people things that weren't true. He made me look like a crazy person

I looked like a psychopath to the people of my pack. Henry was treading on a thin line.

I crossed my arms and shook my head. Rae cleared his throat. "Why would he lie like that?"

"He's had it out for her ever since the first day she arrived. He never liked her from the moment she arrived in Takiani. I think he sees her as a threat. She pushes Liam to make him better, stronger,” Ezra answered. My beast felt a little proud that Ezra thought we pushed Liam to make him better and stronger.

Because we did. We only wanted to best for our mate.

"In all honesty, Liam would kick Henry's ass if he challenged him. Liam could take back his well- deserved throne," Ezra added. The room went eerily quiet.

"Then why isn't he here now?" Samaya questioned, confused again. I looked at Nicolas, and he sighed.

"Liam isn't ready. He thinks of Henry as some sort of hero. He's too loyal to him, and he definitely wouldn't go behind Henry's back. He needs to figure it out on his own before anything happens,” Nicolas explained to everyone. Liam's siblings all nodded in agreement.

"He just needs some time and maybe some more eye-opening experiences to see that Henry isn't the man he thinks he is,” I said truthfully. I knew that Liam wouldn't believe anything we had to say about Henry working with the rogues.

We didn't have any hard proof either. We needed to find something that could clearly link Henry to the rogues.

"Okay. Back to Henry. What if he really is working with the rogues? Why would he do it and what is he plan? Does he want to make an attack? Another one like the one we had with our mother, or another like the one in Takiani?" Jax questioned. Everyone glanced around, and I noticed the sour expression on Lila's face. She hated talking about her parents’ deaths.

"We need solid proof. What we've got right now isn't nearly enough to go off. We've got to dig a little deeper. But tonight in that meeting, we've all got to stick together. We have to demand tighter security and better investigations. How Henry reacts tonight might even say a little more about him," Christian said. I groaned and shook my head.

"If these attacks have been going on for over four months, we won't get anything on him. If something is going on, we won't be able to catch him out. We'll have to do our own little investigations,” I said to everyone. Cass cleared her throat slightly.

"As much as you'll both hate it, you and Lila are the best best for finding out anything right now. Lila is still the Beta female and Alison, you'll be filling in soon. I think it's time for you both to start sucking up to Melissa and Veronica,” Cass said with a shrug. Lucas sighed.

"And even Anthony too," Lucas sighed out. I widened my eyes at him.

"You've got to be fucking joking me! I'm not sucking up to that disgusting, arrogant, pig-headed moron!" I hissed out. Lucas snorted.

"Which one?" He joked. I groaned and shook my head.

I couldn't bring myself to suck up to any of them. That entire family was arrogant and just plain rude. I couldn't stand any of them enough to suck up to them.

"If you're going to be sucking up, breakfast this morning was not a good start,” Jenny said. Everyone nodded in agreement. I growled out lowly and shook my head.

I hated this.

I could maybe suck up to Anthony, or even Melissa. But I could not do it to Veronica. I couldn't be nice to her. I hated her for flirting with my mate, and I hated her for being bossy and rude to everyone else I knew.

"I've been sucking up for years now. I've never gotten anywhere at all, but I haven't really been looking for anything,” Lila announced to everyone. I sighed and rubbed my temples.

My skin began to burn again and I huffed out in frustration. It was my upper arm this time, and then it slowly slid down my arm before it suddenly stopped. I felt Liam's uncomfortableness.

"Is she bothering you?" I asked Liam. I was ready to go and find her so I could kick her butt. I didn't care if I was supposed to be sucking up to her.

"Not anymore. I told her off. Don't stress, sugar,” Liam replied. I swelled with pride.

"Want me to come down there and tear her hands off her body for you?" I asked him playfully. I imagined him smirking and rolling his eyes.

"Not today, sugar,” Liam replied.

"We're not asking for you to think that Henry is a traitor, but we just want you all to be extra careful. Things are getting strange around here and the last thing we need is people dying,” Nicolas told everyone. He stood up and looked around at everyone. W all nodded at him

Nicolas and his brothers left the room. I sighed and spread out along the couch, my eyelids heavy. I needed to nap before I got ready for the meeting. It was a few hours away.

"Hey, I think south just arrived,” Rae said as he angled his head to look out the window behind me. I sat up arm glanced outside, surely enough seeing my family beginning to arrive in Terialta.

I sucked in a deep breath and stood. I had to forget about everything that was just talked about and I had to act like I wasn't furious with Henry and his entire family.

"Just remember, nothing that we just talked about in here leaves this room," Nicolas said as we all began to pile out the cabin.

My father was already with my cousins and uncles, talking with them. My brothers came forwards and they walked with me.

"Ah, my darlings! Come and give your favourite uncle a hug!"