Chapter Nineteen

Stefan's arms tightened around me, twitching like he was dreaming. He began to make whimpering sounds that left me worried. I held his arms around me, rubbing his forearm, hoping to quiet him down so he could sleep restfully. Just because stress turned me into an insomniac didn't mean that he should stay up with me.

"Don't leave me," Stefan whispered in his sleep.

At that I took a chance and searched his mind.

We were running in wolf form, and I was in front of him. The trees whipped by him in blurs he was moving so fast. He was running after me. My retreating figure grew smaller and smaller and I felt Stefan mourn. Don't leave me, his wolf cried to the moon with a solitary howl.

I felt Stefan stir and he woke enough to see that I was still curled up tightly next to him and then he fell back asleep.

"I will never leave you again," I whispered to him. "Sleep, my love."

I found myself worried for Stefan. He still feared that I would leave him. After everything, he still thinks I may leave him. It hurt me, but I understood his insecurities about me. I began to wonder if he would ever fully trust me to stay with him. Even if that meant staying on Il Duce Luna pack land for the rest of my life. It would bore the hell out of me, but if that made Stefan happy, I would do it. I would have a lot of details to work out, but the point is I would stay home for him.

Now you are truly thinking like his mate. My wolf whispered to me. Don't be so smug.

I finally began to relax, and I was about to fall asleep when I felt the stirring of something. It felt similar to my power; the same energy that had built against the Ulfric earlier in the evening, only this was coming toward me. I climbed out of bed and dressed quickly for a fight. I felt one coming on. You could sense one after so long of fighting.

"Stefan, honey wake up," I whispered.

"What is it?" he grumbled, until he felt what I did and he was awake.

"What is that?" I asked him.

"That would be the arma," he said flatly, no emotion. He was cutting those off.

"They're coming for me aren't they."

"Yes," Stefan pulled me to his body, as we waited for them to come through the door only moments later.

Five males wearing what looked like modern/archaic armor surrounded us. Surely they were sent to execute me for my actions toward the Ulfric. What would Stefan do when I was gone?

Stop thinking like that. Stefan's mind comforted me. Holding me close to his body and reminding me that he would protect me.

"Lenuta Daciana Rezzori" they said in unison.

Their collective power surrounded us and beckoned me to step forward. I found my feet moving before I could tell them not to. My wolf surged forward, my eyes changed color and my wolf forced me to kneel before them.

"By birthright, you are of our blood, flesh, and power." The arma continued in their ominous unison. "From the time of your first breath until you take your last, you will be under the protection of the Arm? de apreciere, we answer to no alpha as we govern all alphas and Ulfric."

My own power began to surge forward in response as it melded with theirs. As it did, their thoughts became my thoughts. The males in front of me knew my father and were going to help us.

My wolf began to speak with the rest of the Arm? de apreciere in the old language, "As a weapon, I will do my duty to enact justice on all wolves, alpha, and kings. When called I relinquish all rank to the brotherhood of discretion. We are the Arm? de apreciere, one blood, one flesh, one force. With this duty, we will be the judgment and executioner."

I rose and the Arm? embraced me and my wolf.

"Grab what you need, and follow us now." One male said.

My bag was still packed, thankfully so all I had to do was grab my toothbrush and throw my knives and such in before zipping the duffle bag closed. Stefan had heeded my advice and not unpacked yet either and was ready to go when I was.

We stole away into the night. Stefan stayed silent at my side save for the silent conversation we had in our heads.

Well, now we don't have to worry about you getting in trouble. Stefan smirked at me. Congrats, you are a royal rogue who no longer answers to anyone.

Does this bother you? I asked. His tone was mildly sarcastic and hurt.

I just don't like not knowing what happens from here. He admitted.

We are safe and together, that is what matters. The king would have killed me if we stayed. I stated, trying to reason with him , we will figure the rest out when we are safe. I love you, Stefan. I added squeezing his hand tighter as we navigated through the abandoned tunnels underneath the shifters private compound.

I love you, Lenuta. My wolf rejoiced at the sound of our real name.

We emerged through a hidden door that appeared to open up into a room that was a hollowed out tree. Steps led up to the top that wound up the length of the tree and when we finally were outside we were maybe a hundred feet up in the trees where a network of tree houses were connected by ropes, bridges, and pulleys. It was magnificent. Below were homes of all shapes and sizes. Distantly you could hear the sound of children crying below and mother's soothing them back to sleep. We marched on until we reached the largest of the treehouses, which was actually a large tree that had a home with in it. By some form of magic the tree still lived with the insides gutted from it. Windows had been cut into the sides, and vines with intricate knots and flowers served as shutters. Clothes were hung out on a line emerging from one window, it was homey and majestic at the same time. Various doors in different sizes were wrapped around in different areas on different levels. The door we approached was the main entrance. It had French double doors here that concaved with the shape of the tree. Runes in the old language were carved into the dark green paint, I was unsure of what they said, I was rusty on my old shifter language.

When we entered, I was immediately aware of the attention in the room. All eyes fell on Stefan and I, but soon all eyes turned to me.

This is your show darlin', tread carefully. Stefan warned me. I gave him a subtle nod. My big mouth could get me into more trouble than I was ready for.

"Step forward Lenuta, I have not had the pleasure of meeting you." A male shifter said. He was a tan man, with black curly hair. His eyes were unsettling, one was ice blue, the other was warm and dark brown.

I stepped forward, dropping Stefan's hand for the first time since the Arm? collected us.

"I am Lenuta Daciana Rezzori," I introduced not bowing my head, or kneeling. I was of the Arma who answered to no one.

"I am your father, Lucas Daciana" he replied coolly, and then began to smile. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you my dear"

"The pleasure is all mine." I replied genuinely, still not able to find the right words.

"Please come and sit with me, and bring your mate. I'm sure you both have a lot of questions." He offered to us. We took the offer and quickly moved to sit at his right.

"Thank you sir," Stefan said as he helped me sit before taking his own seat. He was always so thoughtful of me, I loved that. That's my job you know. And you do it for me too I just don't think you realize it.

I just smiled at him and turned to my father.

"Why am I here now?" I asked bluntly.

"She is blunt like her father!" He laughed jovially. Those that were gathered around laughed with him at his joke.

"You are here now, because now is when you need me," he replied simply.

"Did you not think I needed you when I grew up in foster care thinking I was human?" I blurted out without thinking.

"Ah," My father's smile left his face. "Until, a few hours ago, I thought you were lost to me, as soon as I felt your power in the city I knew what would happen. The king would realize who you were and sentence your execution which traditionally is to be done by the Arm? de apreciere hand, but for the last twenty-two years we have not done the dirty work of the Ulfric, we are our own governing force. We maintain the premise of which were destined to be responsible for, and because of that responsibility, we will not be the guard dogs of anyone."

"I heard you broke the Ulfric's jaw," a voice called out eliciting laughter from all others in the room.

"She did, after he smacked her across the face," Stefan bragged.

Lucas laughed heartily, "You are just like, me!" He rejoiced.

"What did you break of the Ulfric's?" I asked smugly.

Lucas leaned back with a smirk and cockiness not unlike my own. "I got his daughter's heart, and broke his."

"You're proud of that?" I asked bluntly.

Lucas just looked at me with a stern look that said I should drop it.

I would bring that up in private.

"What do we do now?" I asked.

"You start training with me tomorrow," Lucas replied.

"Training?" I asked.

"As one of the Arm? de apreciere"

"How long is the training?"

"It depends on you, but at the least one year, at the most two," he elaborated.

"We have a pack we are responsible for in the states, if something goes wrong__" He cut me off.

"Oh, I fully plan on going with you when you leave, but you can't go back to your pack." Lucas interrupted.

"Can't the Ulfric just order me to come back or something?" I asked.

"Not until you complete the mating ceremony and become Alpha Female to your mate's pack." Lucas said effectively kicking us in the teeth.

"So, because I'm rogue, he can't touch me, as I have sworn no allegiance to him, therefore am not under his control, but the moment Stefan and I make our mating official I will be under his control, because Stefan is under his control." I said forlornly. I wasn't a big girly girl, but I really wanted to show everyone that Stefan was mine forever and wear a pretty dress.

"And because of that, Stefan can be ordered back to the Ulfric." Lucas says.

"I won't answer," Stefan rebuts.

"If you don't, you will put your pack at risk, you have only one option." Lucas returns and we share a look.

"What's that?" he asked his temper rising.

"Stefan," I start.

"NO! I will not go rogue, I will kill the Ulfric my damn self and be done with it," he roared.

"Stefan," I repeat.

"I will not abandon my pack!" He growls.

"Stefan!" I yell.

"What?!"

"We have to protect the pack, and the best way to do that, is to let Erik take care of it." I say calmly. "We go underground, and when this is all over, we can go back." I promise. "Otherwise, I'm going underground without you, and you will have to wait for me to come back."

"You're going to leave me again, just like that?" Stefan asked, the hurt and anger was like a wave washing through me.

"I don't want to, but if I go back to your pack, I will be endangering your pack, and I won't have innocent blood on my hands." I state calmly. "I want you to come with me, but as long as you are Alpha, you will be under his power and a liability to my safety."

Stefan sank to the chair defeated. "I need a phone."

I produce a pre-pay from my jacket pocket and hand it to him wordlessly.

He dials what I assume to be Erik's number by heart.

"Erik, it's me."

"Hey, how's everything_"

"You are Alpha now, I relinquish all titles and ties to Il Duce Luna, keep them safe and don't trust the Ulfric." He said, his voice empty of emotion but as soon as he snapped the phone shut, I could feel the ties of his pack leave us. The door shutting was like a knife in the heart.

We will still have a mating ceremony, I'm going to overthrow the Ulfric, we have all the motivation and evidence we need. Stefan growled in my head and pulling me closer to him so he could put his arm around my shoulders.

"Why have you not done anything to bring the Ulfric to justice? Isn't that what you do?" Stefan asked, sounding a bit like me… I think I was rubbing off on him in a bad way.

"We do what we can, but the Ulfric is very powerful, none have been able to resist him up close and personal, except for well… you Lenuta, because you are the true heir." Lucas said, his eyes held tenderness toward me, and that reminded me of Jason.

Jason had always looked at me like that when he was teaching me the way of things, or when I had achieved something he thought was significant.

"What do you mean true heir?" I asked.

"Your mother and I are true mates, the Ulfric had a child with his true mate before she was killed, and that was your mother. The line of rule can only pass through true mates." He says.

"And I can't formally remove him from power until I come into my own power,"

"You are quick-witted like your mother." Lucas commented.

"Would either of you like a drink?" A female in a simple conservative dress asked us.

"Bourbon, if you have it" I answered.

"She'll have water," Lucas answered for me.

I glared at him, "Excuse me?"

"You shouldn't drink; it is unbecoming of a woman,"

I started to open my mouth, when Stefan interrupted my impending rant.

"She'll have bourbon straight, if you don't have it, scotch and I will be the judge of what I think is becoming or unbecoming of my mate." Stefan said dismissing the now frightened looking girl.

"Who do you think you__" Lucas started.

"He would be my mate, who I have known a lot longer than I have you, so you would do well to remember that I have been taking care of myself for a long time without your help, and Stefan took care of me when I couldn't do that, so he gets to criticize me, you I have known for now sixteen and a half minutes." I growled. "I've been counting, because I could not believe that after nearly twenty-two years of staring at a baby blanket with a name, did I ever think I would be sitting next to you talking about anything, and I definitely don't think you have the right to tell me what I can and can't drink."

I finished as the girl handed me a single malt scotch, I downed it one flick of my wrist and set the glass on the table a little harder than I normally would have had I not been pissed off.

"I apologize, Lenuta," Lucas said genuinely.

"Accepted." I replied with a nod.

"So tell me, why do you have mercenary tattoos on your shoulders." Lucas asked me.

"Because I am a mercenary specializing in the neutralization of hunters and sociopathic shifters." I clarified.

"It pleases me that you chose to be rogue, yet still help packs maintain their way of life, it shows great respect to our traditions, even if you were not a part of them." Lucas complimented.

"Most packs saw it as capitalizing on their misfortunes." I shrugged, I didn't do well with compliments.

"I'm sure they didn't think that when your work was done." Lucas smiled.

I smiled back at him.

Lucas looked behind me and motioned someone forward, before I knew it, strong arms had wrenched me out of Stefan's arms and put me in between two men twice my size.

"JEZ!!" Stefan yelled.

I tuned him out, I could not be distracted right now. If he distracted me I could not protect him or me. The men came at me at the same time like two steamrollers. I did the one thing they wouldn't expect. I went low and leg swiped them. As they were trying to get up I sped off toward Stefan.

He was being held back by three burly looking males. I had fought bigger. My power rose like a storm bubbling under the surface waiting for my fist to enact the force needed to expel it. My knuckles connected with the one closest to me. I spun around with a roundhouse kick knocking back one of the men that had originally grabbed me.

Stefan was able to get loose of the two and we were now back to back in the middle of a circle.

"Lucas what is the meaning of this?" I asked loudly as everyone in the room watched intently.

"Isn't it obvious," Lucas laughed as he remained seated at the table, drinking a single malt scotch, "I want to see what I have to work with."

"Great," I mumbled to myself.

Honey, go sit down, I've got this.

Stefan actually listened to me…he didn't argue with me, he just did as I asked. I was impressed.

"You plan on letting her fight alone?" Lucas asked Stefan rather condescendingly.

"She's got this." Was all he said as he turned to watch me.

I lost myself in the fight, I went into a nearly meditative state with blood and broken bones. It was glorious. All of my pent up anger, energy, and frustrations went into every punch, kick, and elbow. When I felt my power resurface I let it ooze out of me in waves until it swept around adding force to my attacks.

More and more men came in until eight surrounded me.

"Come on Then," I growled.

They came at me all at once, their combined power swept around the room. Waves and waves of violent swings flew until I was forced to my knees. A roar ripped its way from my mouth in frustration. I hated being beaten.

"Calm yourself, Lenuta," My father growled.

I glared at him, my breath coming in short pants.

"Satisfied?" I asked with my voice laced with sarcasm.

"Like you wouldn't believe," he replied. "I like knowing that you can take care of yourself, it will make things easier."

I was drenched in sweat and blood. My clothes were ruined and ripped in some places exposing skin. I looked around to find every mouth in the room was open in awe, except for Stefan. Stefan looked at me with a satisfied cocky smirk, which said simply, yes, she is mine.

"If you are pleased with what you have to work with," I said glaring at one of the bodies of the knocked out men at my feet, "I would like to get a shower and a bed for myself and Stefan." I requested, conveying nonchalant annoyance at his surprise assessments.

"Of course, follow me," Lucas said rising up and motioning the men to release me.

He motioned for us to follow him as he led us up a set of stairs that wound up the inside of the tree, on the next level he opened an odd shaped door that I would not have known was there if he hadn't have opened it. Lucas led us to a quaint little one room tree house. In front of the large hammock strung across the limbs of the trees growing through the room was a chest with my name engraved on it, Lenuta Daciana Rezzorri. I knew it was my name, but I wasn't used to it yet. I would always be Jez Stamos at heart.

Lucas left us with parting words of no consequence, small talk and wished of restful sleep. My heart was weary and tired. Many new discoveries had been made in the last two days and I had not had time to process it. I began to undress mechanically and left my weapons out in arms reach. I didn't think that I would need them, but it gave me peace of mind. I knew the Ulfric would want to kill me now that I had the protection from the one thing that he could not control.

I left Stefan alone, sensing that he may not want to be bothered now that he had time to process what was happening around us, I wasn't sure if being around me was what he wanted. I had caused him so much heartbreak. He had lost everything because of me. I was too selfish to try and leave him again. I needed him too damn much to do that. I pulled out the prepay and called Jason's emergency line. I was the only one with the number for it.

"Jez, what the fuck is going on?" Jason growled.

"I need you to meet me at the safe house in three days, Stefan's on our team now." I explain. "I'll give you the full story then," I say and hang up.

Stefan held his arms out for me in the hammock; his eyes begged me to let him hold me. As soon as I was wrapped in his arms and our naked bodies touched I felt the tension that had settled in my shoulders release. I burrowed into his chest and he held me tightly. He had to have known that I was crying, but he never said a word, he just held me as the hammock rocked both of us to sleep. The moon shone brightly above us and the sound of Stefan's steady heartbeat that now matched my own was like a lullaby that put me to sleep quickly.

The next morning I was up before dawn and started suiting up. I was strapping a knife to my thigh when Stefan woke up. He gazed at me with that look that said I was his entire world, and for the first time, I realized that I was. He had no pack now, just me to tie him to the world.

"Good morning," I greeted him with a smile.

"Good morning," Stefan stepped out of the hammock and strode to me still with arrogant confidence. "You know I don't like waking up alone," he whispers in my ear as he trailed a single finger down my spine that left shivers down my back.

"I couldn't sleep," I admit and rest my forehead on his chest letting myself be comforted for a moment. "But more importantly, we need to get to my safe house."

"And just where is this safe house?" he asks.

Russia, East of Moscow.

"You can't say it aloud?" he asks.

"No," I answer seriously.

Stefan just shook his head, finally understanding that somethings are nonnegotiable.

Old habits die hard…

Stefan kissed my forehead and there was an edge to him I had never seen before.

"I'm so sorry, Stefan," I whispered, choking the words out around the lump in my throat.

"Sorry, why are you sorry?" he asked, worry tinged around his voice like a vice grip.

"It's my fault that you had to leave the pack, my fault that we were apart for so long, and it's my fault that we are in this mess." I say resting my head on his shoulder and holding back my tears. "If I had just let you love me from the start we wouldn't be here," I finish and I tighten my arms around his waist, holding him like he is the only thing keeping me up.

"It's not your fault, it's the Ulfric's. His shortcomings are the problem, not you." Stefan held me and ran his fingers up and down my back to release the muscles that were tensed.

"I caused you so much heartache, I should have surrendered to you a long time ago," I argued.

"No, you wouldn't be you if you had surrendered. You have too much fight in you to give up so easily to someone who was young, headstrong, and expected too much from you at a critical time in your life. You had just been raped by that bastard, which was the Ulfric's fault too, and I was wanting you to be my fairytale." Stefan returned.

"It wasn't just rape, Stefan," I confided. "He tried to break me."

"Well okay you were beaten," he amended.

"No, Stefan, I need you to understand, he used me as practice to train hunters. Macie would take care of me afterwards. He would tie me up and torture me to see how much it would take to break me, just for the hell of it. He didn't want anything from me, but my submission. I was no more than an animal to him. I was locked in his basement for the summer before my senior year at school, and thought he had broken me when he sent me back. I escaped after two weeks. He thought raping me would rob me of my dominance but it made me hate him more, it made me fight harder." Stefan gripped me tighter like I would run away. "I would have given you my submission if I could, but I physically can't."

"I don't want you to submit to me, that wouldn't have made this work in the beginning, I should have started loving you for who you are and not what my traditions told me I should expect of you. It's not your fault, you needed time to become who you were meant to become, and I needed to meet you to know that I wasn't ever going to have the mate my traditions said I would, but that I would get something better." Stefan pulls away just enough to look me in the eyes. "I have the most incredible mate I could ever imagine, you are strong in ways I can't fathom, you are powerful, a warrior, and you make my world stop. I have led my pack out of obligation, and because they are my family, but you are my family now, and I will lead with you." Stefan promised.

I kissed him like I was trying to steal his breath. He returned my affections with steely hard caresses that pulled my wolf to the surface as he gripped my hair to hold me to him.

"I love you," I whispered across his lips.

"I love you too," Stefan growled.

A knock on the door interrupted us as my father entered the room. Lucas walked in as Stefan moved so I was pressed to his side innocently, like we weren't just in a passionate embrace about to rip each other's clothes off.

"We leave today, the Ulfric has seized your plane, so we will be taking a train to__"

"Moscow," I answer. "I have a safe house near there,"

Lucas paused and I could tell he was a bit annoyed but didn't comment as he nodded stiffly.

"Will you have enough room for all of us?" Lucas asked.

"I will have enough room for up to thirty," I answered.

Lucas raised an eyebrow and Stefan looked at me questioningly.

"I have a lucrative business," I answer. "And resources in Russia, so that's where we are going," I say matter-of-factly. My light tone seemed to break the tension in the room.

"Very well," Lucas chuckled. "We will leave after breakfast," he said and exited the room.

There was no packing to do, life on the road had taught me how to live life efficiently. So, Stefan and I made our way down to eat breakfast with the guardians which were mostly men, and the women were all focused on their children. No one noticed us much as we snagged plates. We were halfway through our meal when a guard approached us.

"Sister Lenuta, the Commander wishes for you and your mate to join him." The guard nodded and walked off.

We walked behind him until we reached a table that was part of a large tree. A root had grown out above the ground and had been trained and carved to be a long kingly table. Wooden chairs were wrapped in vines and carved Runes were placed on one side to overlook the other tables.

"Lenuta," Lucas nodded at me, "Stefan," he nodded to Stefan.

"Commander," I answer and seat myself to his left so Stefan sits on my right.

"Are you enjoying your breakfast?" he asks.

"Yes, we haven't gotten to have a real meal in a day or so," Stefan responds after swallowing.

"You must eat better, a strong wolf has a strong diet," Lucas says.

"When we get to the safe house, I'll get groceries and go hunting," I promise.

"We will need some meat other than when we run," Lucas says.

"I wasn't talking about going hunting as a wolf, I was going to get an Elk to feed us all," I chuckle.

"I didn't know you hunted like that," Stefan comments.

"Only to survive," I say, "Like most things I do," I shrug.

"What is wrong with that?" my father inquires.

"I have no hobbies, nothing I do to unwind or relieve stress," I explain. "I just survive, and until I got back with Stefan the only thing that made me happy was fighting." I look down at my empty plate feeling morbid.

Stefan squeezed my hand reassuringly as we rose from the table. Lucas sent for our bags as we moved to leave the compound toward a small walking path through the forest. After a few miles of treacherous hiking we came upon a jeep along a barely there road that was grown up on both sides. The brush had nearly overtaken the carved out path. We loaded our bags into the back and we crammed ourselves into the front bench seat. It took two hours to make it to a train station in a small little wisp of a town.

I saw a bank branch I recognized and took my long coat out of a bag before throwing it over my shoulders to further hide the arms I was packing.

"Wait here, I'll meet up with you in a little bit." I told Lucas and Stefan.

"Where are you going?" Stefan asked.

"To get some money; and you some papers that won't be tracked in systems." I answer as I walk toward the bank.

Three hours later, I was sitting in a café having a cup of coffee and waiting for a drop. I had snapped a picture of Stefan's ID photo and sent it to a contact. I was waiting on said contact to give me the documents I had paid for.

Everything going ok? Stefan asks through our link. Now that I thought about it, it was the only link that he had now. I let the link flow freely and open so he could sense my annoyance at my contact's tardiness, the stale taste of the coffee, and the crowded patio that made my wolf antsy. I set my newspaper down on the table, folded over to hide the envelope with the cash notes. The contact came over dressed as a waiter with a round tray with a coffee to replace my cup. After some nonchalant movements my newspaper was picked up and replaced with another one that had my documents.

You are quite comfortable in settings like this aren't you? Stefan asked as I made my way toward him at the station.

Yes, getting aliases is second nature to me at this point. I had to hide for a long time.

I entered the train station and kissed Stefan's cheek in greeting.

"Get what you needed?" Lucas asks.

"Yes," I nod.

"You arrived just in time, our train leaves in fifteen minutes," Lucas says and hands us both tickets.

"I'll get the bags," Stefan offers and leaves Lucas and I alone for the first time. I found myself being glad it was in a relatively public place.

I had been waiting for years to be in a position to talk to my father and ask questions, but I couldn't for the life of me think to ask anything.

"I know this is awkward." Lucas says. "You don't have to worry, we will get to know each other in time, it won't happen in one day."

I nod to him with a small smile.

"I just wish I had the words to express how happy I am to know that you are alive and that I have the chance to know you," Lucas adds.

"You just said the words," I nod to him and bury my emotions. I couldn't get emotional right now. I would do that later.

Stefan arrived moments later with our bags slung over his shoulders. I grabbed my bag off of his shoulders to lighten the load as Lucas grabbed his on our way to our terminal to board. It turns out there was only two terminals.

The act of traveling is monotonous, and I was so used to it that I slept most of the time. It was habit to just sleep through it, because I would get so antsy locked in a moving cage I couldn't go outside. I had opened the windows to keep the temperature down and the fresh air kept me saner. I couldn't exactly sleep restfully. I had the feeling of being hunted and I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep until I was in my safe house.

Stefan was subconsciously drawing circles on my knee as he read through an old dossier I had in my bag. I didn't know which one it was, probably Madigan's file with the added documents from the cabin the pups were rescued from and Macie recovered. The file had grown to a monstrous size; I was going to have to look into condensing it down. Jason and the boys were probably on their way by now. I would have Tommy look at it.

I was drifting in and out of restful oblivion when Stefan nudged me awake.

"We are in Moscow," he says softly.

I rose up stiffly and grab my bag. By the time I stepped onto the platform I was wide awake and moving to the lockers.

"What are you doing?" Lucas asks.

"Getting my keys," I grumble. "Just follow me, and do as I say for the next few hours please," I try to say as diplomatically as possible.

Lucas's brows tighten together and I could tell the tensions were rising due to the fact that we were all dominant personalities in close quarters. Not to mention we were in the city where Shifter's hated to be. Too many humans, concrete, and not nearly enough trees to be comfortable.

A few turns of the dial on the locker and it opened with a creak. Inside was a black bag with emergency cash, a prepay phone, and a set of keys.

"None of these to a car," Lucas states.

"Just trust me," I smile mischievously.

"That look makes me nervous," Stefan says matching my grin.

After a walk through downtown Moscow and into the warehouse district, I led us to a rundown looking building with inconspicuously placed cameras around the entrance. To any passerby, it looked like a homeless sanctuary. No shifter ever wants to willingly stay in the city, which is why it made it a great rendezvous point.

I opened the door and hit the breaker to turn the lights on. A few sparks shot out but it still worked. A training area took up the back half of the space. The kitchen area was to the left, and beds were on the right. In the center were a few couches and large table. To one side was a tactical board to coordinate ops.

"Is this your safe house?" Lucas asks.

"This is the rendezvous point; I can't get into the safe house without at least one other person from my team to get the door to open." I explain and claim one of the beds before moving to the ops board, file in hand.

"How long will we have to wait here?" Stefan asked.

"At least 24 hours," I answer, and I can tell that I'm sinking farther and farther into my practiced mannerisms.

Like a robot I went through the motions of drawing lines into the life of Madigan in connection with my own and the Ulfric. Paper after paper I pored over, losing myself in the investigative part of the job. I had to think of it as a job, because otherwise it made it too personal. I knew my emotions would come in waves later, but I was hoping to hold it off until it was all over.

I could see the parallels being drawn. With pieces of yarn I drew lines to connect them. Madigan had been receiving monthly direct deposits in an account he had never withdrawn from. The routing number for the bank was one I recognized and it became clearer that the payments came from a bank in Bucharest. It wasn't a coincidence that the payments came from Romania. Hunters were based in England and St. Petersburg, but nowhere around Romania.

Why would Shifters fund a crazy radical hunter group? I didn't want to assume, but it looked like the Ulfric was funding Madigan's hunters. A cup of coffee was set down on the table next to my papers. I looked up and Lucas was examining the board.

"Brignoff," he pointed. "Vile man, he's involved?" he asked.

"Not anymore, he's dead," I answered and took a sip of the coffee while I focused on keeping my face blank.

"He was a disgusting piece of work, even his parents disowned him. They put a price on his head. Shame no one will get that bounty now that he's dead." Lucas commented.

"Oh, I don't want the bounty for killing him, but I have a card to play. Brignoff has a daughter," I inform as Stefan walks into the conversation.

"Are they bringing Macie?" Stefan asked.

"I know Jason, he will bring her," I said. "Since we are going to be in the area anyway, waste not want not."

"I'm confused as to how you ran into Brignoff," Lucas states.

I looked over at him blankly. "It's a long story that I'm not getting into right now," I reply and turn back to the board.

"Don't push her," Stefan said to Lucas. "I had to learn that the hard way." He chuckled and sank into the couch.

I smirked at him.

"We need more allies than the guards and mercs," I comment. "Perhaps in exchange for their granddaughter, the hunters would team up with us."

"And if they don't want to?" Stefan asks.

"They will still get the granddaughter, that girl deserves some true direction and family, this isn't a backroom deal or negotiation," I answer. "I promised her I would save her."

"You want to set up a meeting with the Brignoffs?" Lucas asks.

"Yeah, I'll put word out through the channels," I reply. "It may take a while, but Macie will go with the Brignoffs and we will work on making alliances and gaining intel until we can coordinate a strike."

"We need to eat," Stefan reminds me.

"We don't leave the warehouse until we leave as a group; there is some emergency food in the cabinets." I point to the tall standing cabinet by the fridge.

I rose from the couch and made my way to the fridge. Upon opening it I discovered two flats of water and two cases of vodka. Upon opening the cabinets I found the freeze dried food and went about preparing a meal. I might not be able to cook a good meal, but I could handle boiling water; especially when it was a necessity. I doubted that either of the men had ever survived off of dehydrated crap, but you survive how you can.

"I thought you didn't cook," Stefan smirked as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"I can boil water, but I sure as hell can't cook," I joked. "I prefer to stay in wolf form and hunt rather than eat this crap, but I can't hunt in the city." I sighed.

I leaned back into Stefan's chest and relaxed slightly.

"I'm sorry you got dragged into this," I mumbled.

"Stop apologizing," He whispered in my ear and kissed my cheek eliciting a smile from me.

"Seriously though, how are you doing? With not having the connections you did, it can be crippling for many shifters to lose that," I ask.

"As long as I'm connected to you I'll be fine," Stefan reassured me.

I only had it in me to nod. I had shoved my emotions into a tightly locked box. I was a master at it. I couldn't feel guilty when I was trying to survive.

Just as I was doling out rehydrated meat, potatoes, and rice my pocket began vibrating. I nodded to the guys to start eating without me as I stepped into the living room to take the call.

"Yeah," I answered on the second ring.

"Jez, you at the rendezvous?" Carlos asked.

"Yeah, does Jason have the package?" I asked.

"Yes," he replied.

"ETA?" I asked.

"Twelve hours," Carlos responded. "Have the coffee pot ready," he grumbled.

"Will do, see you soon." I ended the call.

"Your phone etiquette sucks." Stefan chuckled.

"Does not, it's efficient," I defend as I sat down to choke down the ‘food' I had prepared that was growing cold.

I stayed quiet as I finished my food. Choking it down was nearly torture, but what can you do when you are left with little choice. I studied the board like miraculously it would give me more answers.

"You know, I find when someone is hiding something you can find out more by knowing how they covered it up," Lucas comments.

"I was adopted by hunters in the U.S." I say. "Amelia sent me to be adopted, and I'm pretty sure the Ulfric had his hand in it since he ordered her to kill me."

"Right, but how did he make sure you went to hunters," he asked.

"It doesn't matter," I shrug it off. "I already have evidence that he was paying off radical hunters."

I moved to the fridge and opened a bottle of vodka. I took a slug and passed it to Stefan. He passed it to Lucas, who passed it back to me without either of them taking a drink.

"Suit yourselves," I sighed and tossed the cap on the table before drinking some more.

It wasn't long before the undeniable warmth spread through me and the edge of the last few days drifted away.

It may not be healthy to drink away stress, but it was damn effective. Upon seeing my relaxed state Stefan soon joined me, and then so did my father.

We drank, joked, and laughed well into the early morning hours. I couldn't sleep, and I couldn't get so trashed that I would be vulnerable. After the fifth bottle I stopped drinking and made everyone coffee.

I think we all had the same thought, not to sleep until we knew we were safe. The second pot of coffee was underway when I heard someone pull up to the warehouse.