Chapter 5

Amaris threw her head back against the headrest of her chair and yawned. Beside her, her fellow wolves shifted in their seats around the round table, equally bored. She didn't sympathize, only because they didn't deserve her pity.

This meeting was taking much longer than she had anticipated, and she was on a tight schedule. Not to mention how tired she was. She'd been up all night, trying to track the demon who had tried to harm Lila, to no avail. She'd tried to recruit her pack-mates to help, but the second they heard she was working alongside the Charmed ones, they'd turn tail and ran, quite literally. Not that she blamed them, of course. Witches were typically grouped up with Whitelighters in her pack's mind, after all. Things had been tense with the pack since then, but it never got in the way of important dealings, thankfully. They just couldn't trust her, now that she'd made it known she was aiding some witches, witches who were known to be too close to the "enemy."

So she'd been searching, day in and day out, without any rest, and without any help to boot. So not only was she grumpy, but she was also exhausted while she had to sit here and listen to her Alpha drone on and on abot whatever it was he talked about constantly. Amaris had never cared enough to really listen.

"Amaris, I ask that you pay attention. This is a very serious matter that concerns us all."

Her pack-mates snickered as she flinched at the scolding from her Alpha, sheepishly turning to face him, face flushed in embarrassment. Her Alpha smiled at her, then sent his underlings a look, and they instantly went silent.

"Sorry, Alpha," she muttered, and he nodded before going back to what he had been doing originally. Amaris paid him no heed, her mind drifting elsewhere, towards the demon. Namely what it was, what they needed to do to stop it, why it was targeting Lila. But her thoughts were on what came after-if this was a one time thing, or if they would be working together in the future.

Then something he said caught her attention, and she tore herself out of her reverie to better listen.

"Demons have been scented in our territory, and it will not be tolerated."

Amaris perked up, knowing this could be her only chance to do something.

"Demons that are after little girls," she said, nodding. You could hear a pin drop as her Alpha ceased talking and stared at her while her pack-mates watched with baited breath.

Her Alpha arched a brow and finally spoke. "Oh, is that so? Why did you not share this with us earlier?"

She bit her lip, and pouting, replied, "I shared this with everyone, but they all turned coward and refused to help me rid our land of child-snatching demons."

Her pack stilled. Her Alpha silently stood from his seat, in all appearances seeming completely calm, though she knew better. He was furious.

"No one raised a hand to help?" he questioned quietly, and her pack-mates flinched at how deadly calm he was. Now, at least, they knew of their Alpha's rage.

"No, Alpha," and he nodded, taking it in. She watched him breathe evenly, eyes rapt on him. His mate placed a comforting hand on his arm, but he gently pushed it aside. She pursed her lips and stepped back, submitting to his desire to seethe.

"I see."

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a bloodcurdling roar, he spun around and snatched a pack member by his neck, hoisting him up into the air. He struggled, but only briefly, before submitting. Her Alpha sniffed, and unimpressed, threw him across the room, where he connected with the wall. He fell to the ground and made no move to sit up. Mere seconds passed by before a loud, resounding cracking noise filled the room, and then the wall split, webs of lines and cracks extending throughout the concrete. No one uttered so much as a word as they all watched their Alpha, breathing heavily, sink back into his chair.

"And what have you found out?" he asked, as though the past minute hadn't happened and he hadn't just chucked one of his subordinates into the wall. Amaris couldn't help but sigh. She finally thought her pack had a good, sane leader, and then he goes and musses up her assumptions by doing something like this.

"Not much," she admitted with a grimace, not pleased with herself but knowing telling the truth was better then lying. He pinned her with a look, and she stared at him irritably before hurriedly looking away, knowing that staring for too long was a bad idea for all of them.

"Why's that?"

She shrugged.

"I'm not aware of the broad array of demons that exist. I have a scent in mind and a description, but nothing to compare it to."

She paused. She was going to be taking the ultimate risk with her next words, but she had to speak her mind.

"However, I would...if I worked alongside the Charmed ones."

His eyes twinkled with an emotion she couldn't quite place, and behind her back she crossed her fingers and hoped it was a good emotion.

"They know more about demons than myself, and are better equipped to handle them. This is, ultimately, in our territory, so they'll need me to help them. I was thinking we could combine our assets and take it down quickly and efficiently so we can bring peace back to our lands once more. This could maybe even strike fear into the hearts of our enemies, but I won't do it unless I have your permission, Alpha."

Her Alpha was silent, and she held her breath, impatiently awaiting his verdict. And she wasn't the only one. Her pack-mates tensed too, though whether it was because they wanted the same thing Amaris wanted, or if they were just eager to hear the pack's "golden girl" have her idea shut down was anyone's guess.

"A nice enough plan, but the other packs would spurn us for consorting with witches. However, if you deem it wise to aid them, then I see no reason why I should refuse this exchange."

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, but she didn't look at him. Instead she bore a hole into the table. Just where was he going with this?

"That it is not to say that I approve of it," he continued, but Amaris had already caught on. She didn't know whether to be angry or ecstatic. On one hand, he wasn't ordering her not to do it, nor was he limiting her on what she could. On the other hand, she would seem like she was acting of her own accord to the other wolves, which would present many problems. Namely that wolves from other packs would come to hate her, she'd be an outcast, and should this go wrong, none of the blame would fall on her Alpha. He would be kept out of it all-she would take the brunt of it.

Still, what else could she do but agree? There was no way anyone else was willing to do it, but they needed this partnership in order to help themselves.

"I accept," she said, interrupting him from the long-winded speech she suspected he had started while she had been mulling things over in her head. He paused to look at her, surprised, before a grin erupted from his face. She nodded stiffly, then stood up. The eyes of everyone in the room were fixed on her.

"May I be excused from this meeting, Alpha? I would like to get started on things right away."

He grunted and waved a hand, indicating she could leave. She had to fight to keep herself from sprinting out of the room. However, she stopped as she passed by the fallen werewolf, and kneeling, she listened for the signs that he was still alive. He was breathing, and she could hear a heart beat. Satisfied, she straightened and stalked out of the room. Their eyes all followed her as she left.

She took the flight of stairs that would take her out of her Alpha's basement, the impromptu meeting room, at a brisk pace. Only when she was outside did she appeal to her instincts that were telling her to run, and did just that all the way to her starlight black 1964 Pontiac GTO, a car she was proud to own, considering how good of a condition she kept it in, and, after hopping inside it, hightailed it out of there.

She had sisters to visit, after all.


Here she was again, staring up at the vast manor before her. She was hesitant to approach it, since she feared none of the Halliwells would be up yet, given how early it was. Well, it was noon, but you never know.

You can handle this, Amaris. You've stared down worst things in the face and didn't turn tail, so why should you start now? she thought, giving herself a mini pep-talk. She inhaled deeply, and let out an equally deep exhale.

She managed to finally psych herself up to the point where she could walk forward unflinchingly, she did just that and knocked on the door. She wasn't in the mood to listen to the doorbell echo throughout the whole house. At first, no one came, so she waited, shifting on her feet as she did. Still, no one came. She sighed through her nose and made to go back to her car, all of her confidence leaving her, when the door opened. She turned back around, expecting to find one of the sisters, but was instead met with someone she did not recognize. He was brunette, with light green eyes, and she found herself admitting to herself that he was rather handsome looking, regardless of whether or not he was glaring at her, like he was doing now. However, he smelled of Whitelighter, something rather off putting, and so she wrinkled her nose and let her hands ball into fists at her sides.

"I need to talk to one of the Halliwells, please," she requested, surprised at how even her voice sounded. She was expecting it to be shaking with rage, with the likes of him being so close to her. The wolf was aroused and was demanding blood, and though it was a war to quell it, she managed to, reluctantly.

He stared her down for a moment before he shook his head. "No."

Her brow furrowed. Because that was exactly the kind of attitude that kept him alive. Not.

"Please. It's about Lila," she found herself begging. He scoffed once and opened his mouth to retort, but was cut off by a familiar form coming up behind him and snapping, "Get out of her way, Chris. This is the werewolf from the other day."

The look she shot him was a scathing one, but when she turned her attention to Amaris, she was all smiles. Chris rolled his eyes before turning on his heel and retreating into the house. The two women watched him go before Piper turned her attention to her and flashed her an apologetic look.

"Sorry about him," she said, but Amaris waved off her words.

"It's fine. I completely understand. My first reaction when I see strangers at my door is to snap at them, too."

"But he doesn't live here."

"Ah, but he's your Whitelighter, which only makes it worse," Amaris countered, grinning.

Piper paused. "How do you know he's our Whitelighter?"

Still smiling, Amaris tapped her nose. "Keen sense of smell and the knowledge that some random one from 'up there' wouldn't be in your home 'just cause.' "

Piper nodded, understanding lighting up her face before she gestured for Amaris to come in. Amaris gladly accepted the invitation and stepped inside.

"The Alpha has okayed me assisting you. The quicker we get that pest off our land, the happier he'll be," she began. Piper hummed, and Amaris quirked an eyebrow, knowing the witch was thinking about asking something.

"Does that mean after this is over, you'll never speak to us again?"

Amaris halted in her strides, and Piper stopped with her.

"Do you mean as friends or cohorts?"

"Either."

She was touched that they might want to be her friend, but she didn't mention it.

"I'm not sure about helping you later on, but nothing I know of can stop us from being friends."

Except for the fact that her kind would hate her later, but she could deal with that. She hadn't had many friends outside of her pack before. Not in recent years, at least. What made it all better for her was that they were supernatural like her, so at least nothing in her life would be too weird for them, or vice versa. She would fight to the death to keep such a rare thing hers.

Before Piper could could put in a word of reply, a cry of "Amaris!" came from behind them, and then something came hurtling at her legs. Small, thin arms locked around Amaris' legs and nearly sent her toppling, but she managed to somehow stay upright.

"Hey Lila," she greeted softly, glancing down so that she could look into the little girl's face better. Lila giggled, a wide grin breaking its way onto her face before she ducked her head away, suddenly shy. Amaris chuckled, and as gently as she could, pried her off.

"And what have you been doing today?" she asked, and Lila shrugged.

"I wasn't allowed to go outside at all today, so I just colored and explored the house a little bit," she said, pouting at the injustice of it all. Then she visibly brightened as something came to her.

"Oh, I got to practice my magic today!" she announced proudly. Amaris, with wide eyes, sent Piper a questioning look over the little girl's head. Piper hastened to explain.

"Her mother was a witch and she apparently passed it down to her. Lila here is quite the little empath. We found out when she told us everything we were feeling throughout the whole day. It was bad enough with Phoebe-but with a little girl, well," she told her with just a hint of exasperation, and Amaris nodded, chuckling. She could only imagine how annoying that would get.

The power Lila had struck Amaris as curious, especially when one considered the demons that were after. A power like empathy wasn't really worth all of the effort the demons seemed to be putting in to capturing her.

So could it have something to do with the mother? She may not have that much of a power, either, but perhaps it was a way to get back at her, a means of revenge? Ugh, if only she knew what type of demon it was! Then she might get some answers.

She glanced up towards the attic and bit her lip. A glance into the Book of Shadows was what she had come here for, but she wasn't about to skim through it without their permission. She decided to get down to buisness and get it over with, so she politely asked Lila to leave so she could talk to Piper. Lila did so without hesitation or complaint. Amaris made sure she had gone before she turned to Piper.

"I know what the demon looks and smells like, but my problem is that I have nothing to compare it to," she began, hoping the witch would catch on to her meaning. Thankfully, she did, if the wary look in her eyes was anything to go by.

"You want to see the Book," she said, and Amaris nodded, lips pursed.

"If there was any other way I would do it in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, there isn't-I'm not a demon thesaurus. The only way we'll be able to figure out what it is is if you let me see the Book."

Piper played with the idea in her head. They could keep a close eye on her while she flipped through pages, and even if she tried to steal it, what would a werewolf make of it? From her assumptions, werewolves weren't buddies with anything, least of all demons, so even if she didn't want it for herself, there was nothing else she could possibly have use for it. Chris would be mad at her if she agreed, but what else was new?

Mind made, she started for the staircase.

"Follow me," she ordered, and though the werewolf started a bit, she obliged.

Let's hope this decision doesn't come back to bite us, Piper thought, and with trepidation in her heart, she held the door to their attic open and allowed the werewolf to come inside.