When Lovers Wake

A/N: As I promised, this is the first chapter of the four as part of my apology and I really am sorry you guys. I hope you all understand and don't hate me for it. I hope that this is a good way to start of my apology for my past mistakes. And for you readers who think that I don't keep my promises let me tell you this: in my household, we do NOT break our promises. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I do.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0- 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Chapter 11: Exposing the Unknown

The snow from the mountain side was considered nothing compared to the fire inside me right now. I could feel my anger building and it burned so bright I could have melted the snow from the amount of heat I'm giving off. All of us had split off to cover more ground and find them quickly. I am not going to break my vow. Not now. Not ever. My paws digging into the snow covered Earth was a sign that I was determined to do what I promised.

I had instructed Bryn to take Mason and fey to search the western side of the mountain while Sabine and I searched the eastern. So far there isn'tany sign of them, but I am determined to find them. Suddenly, I felt something. A presence. My ears perked up due to my keen wolf senses, the sound of something snapping about 10 yards from my present location. Moving with the grace and caution making sure not to create any sounds what so ever.

Sensing that I was only a few feet away from the subject. Sniffing the air, I caught what we've been looking for. I caught the scent of one of the hunted packmates, but i also caught the scent of something sharp and metallic. Blood. From what I can tell there's a significant amount spilt.

I caught no other noises anywhere, so I proceeded through the bushes and found a silver wolf laying in the snow unconcious from what I can tell. Bryn! Mason! Sabine! Fey! Find me as soon as you can. I found something that might interest you all. Minutes later I caught the thoughts of the four wolves coming towards me. In seconds, the four wolves surrounded me and the unconcious body.

Shifting into human form, we surrounded the body.

"Does anybody know who this is?" I asked. They all nodded no to my question.

Using my ability as an Alpha, I put my fingers to the wolfs head and murmered an incantation that would shift the wolf back into human form.

The wolf's body began to shimmer and cover till nothig could be seen about the body. As the shimmer faded away, I was shocked to see who I saw. Laying in blood-streaked clothes was the Alpha's mate, Shaylene.

"Calla.." Bryns voice caught my attention "They were all here. They left her here." shock widened my eyes. An Alpha left his mate behind!? This has never happened before. Not in the long line of our histories. No mate has EVER abandoned the other.

"We need to take her back to the complex. As soon as we revive her, we extract every possible ounce of information that we can get from her. We will not resort to forceful tactics, but if its nessicary we will. Sabine, Fey, carry her back to the main complex and watch her. If she wakes, bind her. She doesn't leave. Also, giver her some silver nitrate to incapacitate her abilities. I'll handle her from there after Bryn and I return." The two wolves grabbed her by the arms and legs and began to carry her back to the complex.

" Bryn, Mason.." I got their attention." We will finish scouting the rest of the land. If you find anything else do not hesitate to call for my attention. Meet back here in 20 minutes."

"Your the boss, Cal." she smiled. "See ya in 20 minutes." we shifted and began to finish our route. Five minutes into the search and Bryn Immediately calls for my attention.

"Calla! I found something! Come quick!"

"Stay where you are! I'm on my way! Mason, find Bryn and I. Now!" I called back.

Racing to her, I found her on the other side of the mountain hiding behind a tree. Shifting, I crouched down beside her.

"Bryn. what did you find?" She just stared at the ground, eyes scared and full of horror. She was shaking like a fawn after a thunderstorm.

"Calla, it was horrible." I had never and I mean NEVER seen Bryn like this before. Mason stared at her wide eyed. "Mason, did you see anything on the way here?" I asked him.

"No Cal. Just trees and bushes, covered in snow." I turned my attention to Bryn again.

"Bryn, you need to show me what you found." then it hit me. The raunchy smell of death and decay invaded my senses.

Following the smell, I came around the few trees away from the bushes and saw the most gruesome sight I has ever laid eyes on. Laying on the ground were 4 other wolves. They were in various states of.. of...

I can't even finish the thought before I run to the nearest bush and puke my guts up. Never had I ever been so repulsed by a sight. After emptying my stomach, I went back to the sight to take note of the situation. I used the same incantation to turn the wolves back into their human forms.

Laying before me was Raven, Allison, Ciciline, and Jack. Their eyes were vacant and empty; no life laid in those eyes. They were all missing their shirts and a strange mark was placed in the right side of their ribcages. It looked like I had been burned into their skin. It looked ancient and evil. It was something that I had never really seen before.

Jerking out my phone, I dialed up Ren.

"Ren. I need you to get down here. Bring Neville and Dax down to the Eastern side of the mountain. Hurry. Please."

"I'm on my way, Calla. I'll be there as fast as I can." then he hung up. 3 minutes later, 2 small lithe wolves and a bulky one showed up.

Shifting, I brought them to the sight of the massacre. They all looked horrified at the bloody sight. The packmates has been slaughtered. Their throats torn open and bite marks all over them.

"Calla, what happened here?" Ren asked me.

"I don't know. I sent Fey and Sabine back to the complex with Shaylene and then Mason, Bryn and I finished scouting the area when Bryn called to me and then I found this." I gestured to the scene.

"Neville, check and see if there are any of them still around and report back." he nodded at Ren's order and shifted and took off.

"Calla, is there anything that you noticed about this?" he inquired.

"There's one thing they share. Its a mark on the right side of the ribcage. It looks old. Ancient somehow." He walked over and began to examine the marks on the bodies.

"Calla. We have to show this to the Keepers. This is way out of our league. Its even beyond our control."

"You're right. Dax, Neville, Mason, carry the bodies back to the complex. We need to keep these for the Keepers to investigate." Not questioning my order, they grabbed a body and began carrying it back to the complex where Sabine, Fey, Cosette, and Shaylene are waiting for them.

"Ren, we need to go before the Council this time. You can't go alone on this one. We need to bring them before the Council. I have a feeling that somethin isn't right in the world anymore."
His eyes went wide at my statement.

"Calla. Are you saying that there is something out there? That somethings hunting us?"

"I'm not sure anymore. But it feels as if..." I trailed off.

"As if what?"

I let out a frustrated sigh "I can't explain it, but it's not a safe feeling anymore." I looked him dead in the eyes and asked him "Ren, is it possible that..there's something more than the Searchers hiding out there? Something that could possibley be real and after us?"

"I don't know, Lily..." he ran a hand through his hair. "I really don't, but we're going to find out. Tomorrow we go to the Keepers and determine what's happening."

"Ren, for the first time in my life, I'm scared for my life. I know that it's possible that I'm just being crazy, but I can't help it. I've never, not in a million years, thought that this would ever happen to us. I just thought that we would be mated wolves, have children and be happy for the rest of our lives while teaching our kids to be perfect hunters. I wasn't expecting this."

"Wow! Lily, it sounds if you had the whole future planned out." he joked.

I laughed at his comment. "Yeah. I kinda did."

"For the longest time I thought you hated me. It turns out that you loved me more than I loved you. You're my mate. I promise that whatever is out there, doesn't lay a finger on you. And if it does, I tear him to shreds. End of story."

I pulled him into a tight hug, letting myself drown in his warmth. "Thank you. Thank you for always being there for me." I whispered.

Lovingly, he stroked my hair "I'll always be there for you. No matter what happens."

We broke apart and shifted before heading back to the house to meet up with the rest of the pack.

There wer ten wolves that we thought were out to get us or tear us apart. Five are dead and the other five are on the run from something. Shaylene, Raven, Allison, Ciciline and jack are dead. Alex, Gina, Patch, Jason and Caroline are still are they and just what are they running from?

This was something that we needed to figure out and figure out fast. If we don't we could be next. I have a feeling that something more than lies and secrets are going to be spilt. Something that gives us life and can paint the whole world a crimson scarlet. A world of red.

A/N: I hope that this was a good way to start off my apology for the week and I hope that the rest of it is as satisfying as the rest of the story. And I am sorry that part of the plot was a little graphic. I hope that you don't hate me for it, but I kinda felt it was nessicary for the detail to be there for it to make sense. Again, thanks for reading and I hope you stick with me till the end. And if you are willing to leave the name of your favorite song and who its by in the comment section. I know it's ridiculous, but it shows me that ya love me. Just like I love ya'll. I love you all and thanks for reading again.

~snowflakedreams96~