Nearing theke, the convoy of cars pulled over into the car park of a long abandoned factory, the ageing brickwork crumbling from the walls and the metal pipework rusting from years of neglect. Parking up in a row along the south side of the building, the warriors mbered out of their vehicles and congregated around Justin''s jeep awaiting orders from the Alpha.


    ''OK guys'' Justin said, raising his voice so he could be heard by the entire group. ''Graham is going to be expecting us so keep your eyes peeled and your senses sharp, what we don''t want is for Graham to do anything to Felicity, we need to get her out of there unharmed.


    Everyone around him nodded gravely at his words, Graham had already proven himself to be unstable and did not seem to have any concern for innocent lives.


    Justin pointed to a few of the warriors, ''I need you three to scout ahead'' he ordered, ''keep low, try to stay out of sight and link back to me any information you can about the protections around the house! Turning to Rowan who was stood between his guards, Justin addressed him, ''what does the house look like? Do you know where about it is?''


    Rowan nodded before stepping forward slightly, ''It''s a blue painted, wooden, two story structure, it''s a little way ind from theke, built by itself on quite a bit ofnd. I''m pretty sure its an old farm house from Graham''s description, said he acquired it from its owner, he didn''t borate how and I didn''t ask. the werewolf said. ''He has been nning this for a long time Alpha, so please do not underestimate how much thought he has put into his defences'' he added with a worried nce toward Isabe.


    Justin nodded before signalling his scouts to set off, watching them strip quickly and shift before racing away from the factory and disappearing within the surrounding brush.


    Waiting by the vehicles, the remainder of the warriors perused the map with Rowan trying to pinpoint areas that Graham might have set up counter attack measures. Sebastian, Daniel and Vaya made their way over to Riley and Isabe, Vaya giving Isabe a hug as she reached her, the two having be close friends in the time they had been at Oak Ridge.


    ''So, are you ready for this Be?'' Vaya asked, studying the teenagers face. Isabe nodded nonchntly


    ''I''m ready to rip his head off'' she replied with a scowl.


    Slipping his arms around his mate, Riley pulled Isabe too him, ''babe, as much as I want that dog dead at your feet, promise me that you will not put yourself in danger to get revenge.'' he muttered into her hair as she calmed within his embrace.


    ''I won''t Mr over protective'' she teased as she turned her head to peck his lips.


    ''ugh! Pack it in will you?'' Daniel moaned, ''Be, what have you done to my Alpha? I am seriously reconsidering following his a*s into battle right now!


    Riley turned his gaze to Daniel as he put on a fake puppy dog voice, ''Oh Vaya! I think she hates me! My life it over'' he mocked back as the girlsughed and Daniel blushed furiously.


    ''It''s different when I do it'' he defended, ''I''m cute, you are supposed to be the big bad Alpha dude, not some love sick puppy!


    ''Hey, this love sick puppy will soon turn back into the big bad Alpha if anyone tries to hurt my mate'' Riley replied smoothly, earning himself a wide smile from his mate as she snuggled against him.


    Rounding on Vaya, Daniel pouted, ''howe that doesn''t work on you?'' he groaned, ''you call me a loser and tell me to get my balls out of your handbag when I say stuff like that.''


    Flipping her hair over her shoulder, Vaya grabbed the Beta by the t''shirt and pulled him toward her, pressing her lips to his before replying, ''because I do not need you to be a big bad anything, I can look after myself! Plus if anyone tries to hurt MY mate, well you will see a whole different side to me'' she added archly.


    ''There''s an even more vicious side to you?'' Daniel breathed, his eyes clouding with l**t, ''will you show me it?''


    Laughing, Vaya ced her hand on his cheek, ''if you y your cards right Beta, I just might let you'' she replied with a wink.


    Clearing his throat, Sebastian got the teenagers attention, ''as happy as I am for you guys, could you remember that the old man with you doesn''t get to have a mate and would prefer it not thrown in his face?'' he asked grinning.


    Vaya gave him a small shove, ''shh yourself Seb, you know you have a mate no matter how much you deny it!'' she argued.


    ''A mate?'' Riley interjected, ''who is it!''


    ''rissa'' Vaya replied, warding the collector off as he tried to cover her mouth with his hand, ''he is in love with rissa! she giggled.


    Riley turned to the older man who was averting his eyes from the group, ''Really Seb? Why didn''t you say'' he demanded.


    ''Human''s don''t have mates'' Sebastian muttered, his cheeks colouring, ''plus we were looking for Isabe, I didn''t want toplicate things!


    ''So you admit it! You do love rissa!'' Vaya squealed, hugging the mortified Collector.


    ''I didn''t say that!'' Sebastian argued desperately.


    ''I definitely heard you say that you have feelings for this rissa person Seb'' Isabe chimed in.


    ''How did I end up with you annoying lot'' Sebastian groaned.


    ''You were just lucky Seb, and admit it, it''s been an adventure with us'' Daniel smirked.


    ''You should go and tell her how you feel Seb'' Isabe said with a smile.


    ''She could do much better than me kid'' Sebastian muttered dejectedly.


    ''Maybe she doesn''t want what you think is better for her, maybe she thinks you are the best?'' Isabe replied with a smile at the older man''s conflicted face.


    ''She certainly seemed interested when we left'' Daniel added, Riley nodding agreement.


    ''That''s true, she seemed a bit upset that you were leaving'' Riley said.


    ''She was upset that we were all going, we were her friends'' Sebastian protested.


    ''Whatever mate, she was more upset about some people over others that day'' Daniel replied.


    Their conversation was interrupted by the return of the scout group who raced up to Justin, shifting quickly and dragging on their clothes before the leader spoke, the teenagers pushing their way over to hear what was said.


    ''Alpha, we have found the house, it''s not hard to get too, but Rowan is correct, Graham has ced defences around the property. We unearthed at least three trip wires along paths leading to hisnd, there are security camera''s giving views of most of the surroundingnd. From out vantage point we could make out disturbed ground, we think he has ced explosives of some kind around the house, I would assume pressure sensitive but they could also be remote charges.


    Justin whistled, ''he''s not taking any chances is he'' he growled, ''right, there will be no running in to the fray here, slowly, carefully we will advance. I think we should split into groups and attack from multiple directions at once, try and overwhelm him. Did he seem to have any help with him?'' he asked the scout who shook his head.


    ''No Alpha, we caught no scent of Rogues in the area, we think it is just him and Felicity'' the scout replied.


    Raising his voice, Justin addressed the group, ''men, I want you too split into groups of three, Bailey, Karl you remain here with Rowan'' he ordered, turning to the teenagers he lowered his voice, ''kids, I want you to stay here too, Sebastian, you are free to remain here or attack with us, I am not your Alpha so have no right to order you around.''


    Isabe pushed herself forward angrily, ''you are not leaving us here Uncle Justin'' she growled, interrupting him as he tried to protest, ''you, my father and uncle James are all going to have to ept that I am eighteen years old and as the future Alpha of Silver Cross and the strongest wolf out of anyone here, I am not standing back while you go into this fight.''


    ''Isabe!'' Justin argued, ''you are not even mated yet! Do you know what your dad will do to me if anything happens to you?''


    Isabe fixed Justin with a death stare, ''If I strip off right now and jump on my mate on the bo of this car, is that going to miraculously make me more capable of fighting?'' she spat back at the mumbling Alpha. ''As for my father, he is not here, he is also no longer in charge of my life. I am a fully grown adult, I have a mate and I will be going into that battle with or without your approval. she growled, her eyes never wavering from her uncles.


    ''As will we'' Vaya added, her hands on her hips, ring at the bemused Alpha who looked to Riley and Daniel for help.


    Riley lifted his hands, ''don''t look at us Uncle Justin, our mates have spoken, we can''t go against what our mates want.'' he said seriously.


    Justin rolled his eyes, ''struck down by my own damn sword! You are way to quick a study Riley!'' he growled before turning his gaze back to the girls, defeated.


    ''Fine, youe too, but you stay with your mates, you do NOT, and I mean this Be, do NOT engage with Graham unless your life depends on it, understand?'' he demanded as the girls nodded triumphantly.


    ''Alpha'' came Rowan''s voice from behind them, ''I would also like to help if you will allow me, I swear on Isabe''s life that I have no intention to run, and it seems wrong to hold back two of your warriors to babysit me when we could all be helping retrieve Felicity''. Studying the werewolf for a few moments, Justin finally nodded, seeing no lie evident in the other man''s face. ''Fine, but you stay with your handlers'' he said before turning back to his lead scout to discuss strategy.