Something's going to happen

Grace washed her face with the rest of the water she'd had in her bottle and helped around to pack everything. A few minutes later, the group of seven was walking along with a pattern of trees, up north. The ground was starting to heave up, they could feel it as they start to stretch their muscles more. The heat was starting to subside as a few breeze brushed past them. Anne made small conversations to keep the group alive while Mathew stayed quiet, not commenting on Malick's orders. It made Grace wonder what he'd been thinking about, though she had a bad feeling that it might be about the night before.

"Got any water left?" Anne asked the team tilting her's upside down. The rest of them shook their heads. "There's a river nearby, let's stop there."

Grace didn't stop to ask how the girl knew.

They soon found the flowing river with the help of the sounds and paused to wash their faces, and get the bottles filled. Fred whined in happiness as he tasted the water, which was too pure to be real. Even with the dirt and mud getting washed away with the liquid, everyone somehow felt that it was safe to drink it.

Anne sat next to Grace as she helped fill the bottles and asked her about her job back at the town.

"I worked as a journalist in 'Writers Choice' company." She replied.

"At the mini branch in our town?"

"Yes, it might look like trash, but inside, it's a true gem," Grace told her wiping her hands on her track pants. "I loved working there, everyone there were like a family. I kindof miss them, I guess." They had all past away in the storms, the soccer match being the core reason.

"I'm sorry for your loss." Anne shyly said packing the bottles inside the bags. She felt Grace shake her head from the corner of her eyes.

"Not your fault," Grace assured her, "have you-" she paused and glanced at the high schooler. "Have you experienced anything like that?"

Anne shrugged, not hurt by anything the adult said, "I lost a lot of my friends and relatives, but my parents were with me at home. Jude though," the younger girl hugged herself as she started to lower her voice. "He's the one who lost both his parents at the storm. He has a sister, but she's hurt because a ceiling fell on her during it; she was at a friend's house."

Grace nodded, not knowing what to say. She was never good at these things since she always kept to herself most of the times. "I lost my dad." She said, as if it would make the girl feel better. Grace cursed when she knew she'd made a mistake. "Sorry, I didn't say it to make you feel-"

"It's fine. I understand."

Grace froze for a moment before giggling at her discovery. "You're so mature for your age." Anne only smiled back, saying she got that a lot.

Fred called the girls to leave and they made their way back up to continue. Grace noticed how Fred sounded better than the time at the bakery. Though she knew he was hiding something from everyone, she trusted him a little bit more than the rest to keep her safe. Not only has he made sure that Grace was welcomed in the journey, he'd also promised to tell her first of what he discovered.

Unlike some people.

Grace didn't like that her uncle had been quiet the whole time and wanted to tell him that she's not a baby. She's known Malick since she was in dippers; he was there when she got into her first fight in school, the time when she fell off a bike, when she dated the school's 'perfect guy' at that time but found out that he was lying about being her 'soulmate'. He was there when she graduated and got applied to her first ever official job; he was the second father in Grace's mind. So she understood why he's always very protective of her, more than her own father, but he needed to let go.

The only difference between her father and her uncle was that her father trusted her and knew that she was capable of living her own life. That's why he was her rock.

Grace stumbled over a rock making her come back to reality as she watched Mathew stumble as well.

"Careful, we don't want you to start rolling towards the cliffs again."

"We're near the cliffs again?" She asked back, confused that she'd thought they'd walked away from it.

"Yeah," one of the guys spoke as Mathew wondered off more into the woods. "The Mountains are weird, they go in and out, up and down to various ways that it's hard to keep track."

"You sound as if you've been here before." She got no reply for that and she felt proud that they were caught off their guard. She didn't want a reply. As much as she wanted to hear the explanation and the truth, Grace decided that right now was not a good time. "Mathew, where are you going?" She asked instead, eyeing the guy as he walked further into the forest.

The said man was startled at being pointed out and lifted his head, eyes wide in surprise. His neatly combed hair was now stylishly messed up from the night before. Grace noticed a few more strands of black and wondered when he'd gotten a color change; maybe in London. The others stopped their walk as they watched him struggle to talk. Malick narrowed his eyes while Lucas curiously waited for a response. Fred on the other hand, just rolled his eyes, wondering why the guy was trying so hard to get attention.

"W-what?"

Grace sighed, a little worried for him. "I asked you why you're walking into the woods? According to my uncle, we have to walk further up there, near the cliffs and then make our way in. Unless, you seem to know another way around?"

He paused and then scanned the team members to see their reactions, his nervousness radiating around the trees. Mathew nodded, hesitantly and slowly walked towards them before waiting. He raised a brow and shrugged with his hands inside his pant's pockets. "What are we waiting for?"

Malick narrowed his eyes further at the boy and returned the expression. 'What are you hiding boy?' Mathew shook his head no to Malick's question and started to walk forward, in front of everyone.

"What was that all about?" Grace asked to no one in particular. She was getting tired of talking to herself and huffed out in annoyance. Grace had a perfect childhood: all the friends she could ask, the toys, nice older sisters, a caring mother. Then high school came and at the start, everything was fine. She had a sweet boyfriend, teachers that appreciated her hard work at school and an awesome enemy who turned out to be her next-door neighbor in the future.

It was during her last year of school, when everything started to fall apart. Her boyfriend broke up with her without a reason and she fell from being at the top to the bottom fast. Most of her friends started to avoid her while Charlotte suddenly became a friend. Her father supported her all the way, but Grace couldn't help but feel as if something happened and she had no memory of it. Maybe she'd been too drunk or something, but no one opened their mouth whenever she'd asked.

Then college came, to which she finished 'journalism' easily in University of FourWood City. She made herself comfortable with what she got and tried to forget her past perfect life.

"It might as well rain if you guys actually told me," she muttered to the team.

Again, no one replied.

Ryne checked on her list of names for the last time for the day before heading out to the bakery. The morning was not the best of what they'd expect but again, Ryne knew that she couldn't expect anything. They were given a warning from Malick an hour after they'd left. Who knew that a problem would reach them so fast.

Ryne made her way into the store finding everyone in place and doing what they were supposed to do. Susan made sure everyone was fed and healthy for the next few hours.

"I checked the place roughly," Ryne informed, gathering the attention from everyone. "I couldn't point out anything, but they're there. Since Grace is not here with us, I'd say it's fine for us to be ourselves after these long years. But that doesn't mean we can run around the mountains like the olden days. Keep an eyes out for intruders; they're in their wolves forms, apparently." Everyone around nodded before returning to their stations.

Ryne sighed quietly to herself and silently made her way to the corner where she could see one whole side of the town; the perks of having the cafe in the middle of the town. But that also means that she couldn't see the borders. Ryne sighed again, turning around to find Susan hand out with a cup of coffee. "Thank you," Ryne thanked taking a sip.

"Are they going to attack soon, or do you think that they'd wait till night?" The lady asked rubbing her arms together. She was shivering and Ryne knew that it wasn't just because of the cold. The start of wet season is showing itself and everyone worries for the team, since wet is as worse as dry when in the mountains.

"I'd say soon," the other replied back. "If they were to attack at night, they would've so yesterday."

So Susan made herself comfortable on a seat near, propping her elbows on the counter table. Her mind kept thinking of how the intrusion was going to be. What she would be doing when strangers start to attack the town. No matter how much she tried to relax, the different types of scenarios popped into her head. The rest of the town members slowly finished their work and walked out of the store.

"Do you remember the good old days?" Ryne asked to which Susan laughed at, already starting to feel better.

"You make it sound like it's been years and years!"

"Yes," Ryne nodded to herself, a smile slipping through. "Three whole years and plus."

The other hummed in response.

"I remember when you were very oblivious to Malick chasing behind you," provoked Ryne, sneaking a glance at her manager's wife.

"Oh, stop it!"

Copying Susan's smile Ryne shook her head. "You knew about us, but not much. I'd say that you hated our kind!"

A few seconds pasted before Susan agreed making the two laugh, enjoying the feeling of the memories. "You were a little kid then."

"Yes."

"But you remember well! I mean, I spent three years making my man run around; it was fun, honestly."

"Malick spent years looking for the one, that's what my parents tell me whenever I ask."

"You ask your parents about my love life?" Susan's eyes were wide; not sure if in shock or amusement.

"Maybe?" Ryne replied sneakily. "I ask when I need something against Malick. It's easier to threaten him with the past when I need to get extra lunch hours."

"Could've asked me…"

"Next time, I'll make sure." The two ladies paused as they both thought of the same thing: would there ever be a next time? They stayed silent, enjoying the heat from the shop. "Would you mind if I asked the reason to why you don't have kids?"

Susan was staled at first but some understood why Ryne was taking the topic. She shook her head, frowning slightly. "It's not that we didn't want children; it was more of a couldn't. After Malick came from the wars, way before he met me, his father locked him away for a very long time.

"It's a long story but, don't get it wrong when I say that Sarah and Malick had a bad father. He was the 'cool-dad' while their mother was the 'strict-teacher'. When Malick came back from the war, one of the spirits escaped from his hold. He was supposed to hand them in right after, but he didn't because he was a stubborn baby.

"The spirit made Malick's dad the host and tortured him nonstop. At first, Malick didn't know but he soon got the memo. Before he could escape, the spirit leaked its venom into Malick injuring most of his hormones.

"I mean, he's fine. All the important ones needed to live slowly formed back, but I guess somethings just got stuck… he tried so many doctors and went to so many elder werewolves to ask for cure but nothing worked." Susan let a tear slip as she remembered the day Malick had told her. "He was devastated when he had to tell me. He was so scared that I'd reject him and looked so small that I honestly though that he would die in fear."

Ryne placed a hand on Susan's shoulder to show her support.

"But I guess," Susan wiped her face, "you just have to accept the truth and move on. We got used to it. But then, we also had Sarah's girls and Grace came along which was enough for us. It's better than nothing, yeah?"

Ryne only nodded, feeling her own eyes start to sting.

"Hey, that doesn't mean that you have to give up. You haven't found a reason yet, so don't give up."

Ryne nodded again, opening her mouth to thank the lady when a loud bang startled them. The chains on the door cringed loud and fell on the ground. "Ryne!" The two females straightened up. "They're here. And they somehow know every path leading into the town. They're killing ruthlessly." The werewolf was panting as he waited for his leader to say something.

"Get the guards to secure the hide out, all around. Then get a team to fight the intruders. I'll be there, make sure to leave one alive." The guy nodded getting ready to rush out again. "Kill the rest."

Ryne walked out of the shop with Susan trailing behind, it was a good thing that they had sent everyone to the hide out. Only the patrol guards were roaming around and now the rest of the army they had formed after the storm.

"They knew that we were watching the mountain side." Susan pointed out huffing as she tried to catch up with Ryne, she was just a human trying to keep up with a werewolf. Ryne nodded and started to jog when the sound of howls and angry snarls were starting to reach their ears.

"Get inside!" Ryne yelled at Susan, not looking at her as she quickly grabbed the silver knife that was tucked inside the belt. "I'm not in the mood to shift." She said to herself and lunged at the nearest intruder and stabbed right through the back. She knew that it'd hit the heart from the back and helped the guard that was struggling underneath. The wolf bowed its head to show respect before running off the bite another black wolf on its neck.

All the pack worriers were in their wolf form as they attacked. Ryne scanned the place before continuing her way through the mess. She didn't think twice as she slashed her way to the boarder line where she found a large black wolf killing one of her pack wolves. It wasn't a large amount of wolves, but enough to outnumber their ten members of the warrior team.

How dare that dog, she thought rushing to the wolf quietly and slashing the wolf's back. The black monster howled and moved away from the now dead body. The said bad wolf turned around snarling at her and growled in annoyance.

"Who are you?" Ryne asked knowing that the wolf was the leader of the intruders. She could sense the wolf's authority from across the yard. "What are you doing here?" She gripped onto her sliver knife before stepping forward to cut the animal again, but the wolf was ready and moved back, missing the blade. It growled again before moving to the left and pounced on her. Ryne shrieked before moving her hand and gripping tightly to the knife making sure to not let it go.

Ryne used her other hand to avoid from getting her head bitten off and pushed the wolf's head aside. It wasn't easy, the wolf was putting a good fight and Ryne wasn't in her wolf form. Maybe I should've shifted, she thought finally getting a little gip onto the wolf's legs with hers. It was only for the few seconds and Ryne used the escape to lift her occupied hand and stabbing the side of the wolf. She hadn't stabbed properly; something moved her arm, but it was enough to get the wolf off of her. She didn't know which was worse, the feeling of the wolf's blood tricking down her arm, or the sound of two wolves howling in pain. One was the intruder and the other was her mate.

The lover whimpered in his wolf form making Ryne rush to it and hug around his neck, "I'm sorry, are you okay?"

"Cut out your love reunion." A voice stopped their weeps. Ryne turned around to see a man standing proudly, even with a stab at his sides. The guy was naked, but he didn't seem to care as he glared at the female.

Ryne stood shocked. Why does he look so familiar? She thought.

"We are looking for a girl; brown eyes, black hair, olive skin." The guy listed off and Ryne felt blood drain from her face. "Come with us and show us the way to the girl and we'll leave your pack alone." The man spoke with a smug on his face.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Ryne lied through her teeth before running to attack again. Suddenly, a crash from on side of the small field stopped everyone from their fight as they watched more wolves running their way. Ryne heard another growl and turned to see the man once again in his black wolf form, his eyes shining red. She hesitated on what to do as the pack of wolves rushed in. Finally, the attackers were outnumbered.

The bad wolf howled before running off into the trees, the rest of his pack following behind. Ryne turned to find the new wolves shift, some of her fighters rushing to lend them clothes so they could cover.

"What was that about? Who were they?" The male at the front asked, anger oozing off his body. His hair had grown since the last time Ryne had conversed with him and he'd grown taller too, if that was possible.

"You guys are early," Ryne decided to ask instead, she is the older sibling.

"We left a day before planned," he asked back glancing at the mess caused by the fight. Next to him was a short lady, who looked tired and a little weak, "A good decision too, now what happened here again?"

"Long time no see, Sarah. You're holding up well," Ryne commented instead, glancing at the blonde woman.

"What can I say, I did have an upper hand to this whole mating thing," the mother answered back.

"But you both loved each other like it was meant to be."

"We were meant to be." The retort was harsh, but Ryne expected it. She couldn't really fight with the lady, Ryne was too young and respected Sarah since she was a child. "Where's Grace?"

Ryne sighed brushing her hair, ignoring the pain shooting through her body from the cut under her armpit, "long story, come on, I'll explain while we get to the safe-hall." She helped her mate who has shifted back to his human form and had shorts to cover himself. The guy was healing but not quick enough to be normal.

"Have you contacted them after that?" Ryne's brother asked as he rubbed his hands together in slow motion, something that Ryne knew he'd only do when he's in deep thought. They were back at the hideout with all the town members.

She shook her head, "I don't want to interrupt or startle them."

"You can mind link them."

She shook her head again, "normally that would work, but we weren't able to do that ever since they entered the mountains."

"And you let them leave?" It was Grace's mother, Sarah, who asked this time.

Ryne frowned, "not something I could do. I'm only a council member, a Delta. They had the Beta, Gamma and even the Alpha and Luna with them."

"The Collins went too?" There were a lot of shocked expressions as Ryne sighed again, she's been doing that a lot for the past two days.

"The Alpha and Luna passed away during the storm." A few gasps were heard and a few screams echoed through the room. People started to talk as they stood their place in a medium sized safe-room. The grief of loosing their leaders was like the storm reappearing again.

"What?"

"I guess you couldn't feel the connection because of the storm, brother," Ryne explained. "A lot of us here couldn't feel the hurt too, so it's understandable that you guys didn't know about it."

"So the Alpha and Luna that's out there in the mountains…"

"It's the former Alpha's son Jude Collins and his mate Anne Moree." Ryne stated worried of the reactions. "He was advised not to, but he proved that he's still too young to be a leader by doing so. He's only eighteen and newly mated too. The pack and I had no power to stop his decisions and the Gamma and Beta decided that if he was going to go, then it's better to go with him."

"When do they plan on the coronation?"

"After the funeral, hopefully soon. The funeral would take us two daylights to finish and we have discussed among ourselves that it's better to crown Jude as soon as we can. I'm in charge of organizing the event and it'd take me two days tops."

"And how did Grace and Mathew get into this?"

"Grace wanted to be with her uncle and Mathew tagged along, who knows why," Susan gave them the information. She felt bad that Ryne had to handle everything, "Lucas went too because of Grace."

Ryne pursed her lips and Jake asked her what was wrong. "Everything, if I am to be honest." She laughed dryly before frowning again. "I'm just thinking; the guy that attacked us before looked very familiar. And something was very off about him."

There was a long pause before Sarah huffed and rubbed her face as if to clear the dirt, "it's finally happening. What we've all tried to stop and change, it's found us."

Susan nodded and patted Sarah's back hoping that would make her feel better. "It's found us and we can't ignore it."

No one spoke after, they knew that they didn't need to.

Not everyone in the pack knew what it meant, but it was enough to give them a hint that something was going to happen. And they were not going to like it at all.