UNEXPECTED PLANS

Rhys laid on her back across her bed staring at the white ceiling. She was relieved that she had saved them. She had saved Kellan.
It was keeping them away that was going to be the hard part. Garrett had warned her that they would probably be back and she had a sick feeling in the bottom of her gut that he was right.
A soft knock at the door took her out of her thoughts. Rhys never got up. She turned her head toward the door and watched the doorknob turn.
She didn't have to guess who it was.
"Hi sweet heart, are you feeling okay?"
Rhys let out a long breath. "Yeah, I'm fine."
Jared came halfway, then stopped. He hesitated to come the rest of the way. Rhys could see on his face that he didn't know if he was welcome in the room or not. She sat up but didn't invite him to sit beside her.
So she watched him stand there, putting a distance between them.
"I'm sorry about the shock I gave you. I know you must have questions and I admit I have questions as well."
"You have questions?"
Jared opened his mouth but then closed it. Rhys was guessing that he maybe decided that this was not the time for questions. A sense of relief washed over Rhys.
He took another step forward watching for a reaction from her. She darn well knew by his anxiousness in his face that he wanted to take her in his arms.
She never said anything and in not saying anything, he didn't come any closer.
"I'm tired," she said in flat tone.
"I'm sure you are. I just wanted to make sure you were okay, that's all."
"I would like to be alone." She met his gaze and she could now read a longing that almost made her heart ache or was it sympathy?
He glanced away looking down at the floor. "I will let you rest but if you ...
"I will call someone if I need anything. I have the phone at my fingertips."
He nodded. His feet moved to turn around but Rhys could see that it took every ounce of effort on his part to turn his body. Rhys could feel his desire to want nothing more than to run to the bed to be with her.
"Good night Jared."
His shoulder slumped. "Yes, goodnight Rhys."
Rhys watched him leave and when she heard the click of the door she fell back on the bed.
She closed her eyes and tried to shut them all out.
The door flung open startling her.
"What the ...
"Sis, what do you think you're doing?"
"What the hell do you think you're doing barging in here?"
Garrett frowned at her. "I would have knocked if I had known Jared was in here with you but when I met him in the hallway looking like he got kicked in the gut I knew you had something to do with that."
"Really, well I want to be alone. I'm tired."
"Are you still pining away for that wolf?"
"Shut up and get out."
"Must I remind you that I went to great lengths to bring Jared back to you? And must I remind you that you are carrying his children?"
Rhys just stared at him.
Garrett shook his head. "What are we going to do with you?"
Rhys laughed.
"I'm glad you find all of this amusing sis."
She turned away from him. "Get out and shut the door nicely when you leave."
Rhys could hear him stomp over.
"You have to pull yourself together. Remember our little agreement?"
"I remember, now get out."
"Fine, have it your way for now. But I expect you to be back with Jared tomorrow. You two are still getting married."
That got Rhys sitting up. "I'm not getting married till after the twins are born."
Garrett smirked, "I don't thing so. Father wants you married right away."
She narrowed her gaze at Garrett. "I will not do what Simon wants. I'm waiting."
He stared at her for a second and then shrugged his shoulders. "Be stubborn but mark my word you will be married soon."
He grinned. "Good night sis."
"Go to hell," she said as she turned away from him.
She could hear him chuckle as he left the room.
Rhys got up. Now she was mad and oh how she wanted to throw that bastard out a window. She started to pace the floor in her room. This was too much to take. She thought she could handle this situation but she couldn't. Getting married soon was something she didn't need right now. She had too much to think about.
Rhys walked over to the window. Lights in the distance caught her attention. They were car lights coming up the driveway.
Her chest started to thrum. She had a bad feeling.
The car stopped in front of the house. The driver got out and opened the back door.
Simon got out.
Jesus, he's here. What now?
She stood back and thinking her thoughts out loud said, "I'm making a break for it, tonight."

FAMILY DEALS

Rhys saw him leaning against the door way of the office grinning watching her come towards him. She kept her cool. The smell of wolves and were cat permeated the air. It was an odd mixture. It felt like they were hiding in the walls.
When Rhys got closer Garrett pulled himself away from the door and met her half way. "Well, well, I didn't expect to see you. I thought Thor had you hidden upstairs."
"Broke out. You know I'm good at escaping."
Garrett laughed. "I should know better, shouldn't I?"
"You have to stop this mess right now before anybody gets killed."
Garrett offered his arm to Rhys. "Come to the office with me where we can sit and be comfortable. You probably should be off your feet. How have you been feeling?"
"Did you hear me? You have to stop this madness before it turns ugly."
"Oh sis, it's been ugly for a long time."
Garrett led her into the office and there was someone there waiting for them.
Rhys gasped. Garrett laughed. "I thought you would be surprised sis."
"Hey sweetheart. Are you okay?"
Rhys couldn't move. "Jared? You lived."
She felt his arms wrap around her and his scent washed over her. Why couldn't she feel him if he was alive. What happen to our bond?
Jared looked down at her and smiled. "I was so worried about you. You are okay?"
Rhys held her breath.
"Are you okay Rhys? Say something to me."
"I...I don't know what to say. I thought you were dead."
Jared smiled warmly at her. "As you can see darling, I 'm far from dead."
Then why can't I feel you in my head and your scent. I can hardly pick up your scent at all. Rhys wanted to say what she felt but she couldn't make sense of it. She looked over at Garrett. "What are you planning? Is Josh okay? Did he go back to Simon?"
"Hold on sis, one question at a time. "First of all, Josh is okay and he is safe. As for any plans, I have plenty of those sis. That's why Jared is here, to take you away from all of this so that you won't be harmed."
"What?"
"Jared will take you far from here so you and the twins will not be harmed." Rhys noted the firmness in his voice. Rhys could feel a coolness over her skin from him. He wasn't going to repeat himself again to her. He had made his point.
Jared took her hand. "We should go love."
Rhys mind raced with the ones sitting in the study like sitting ducks. She felt an obligation to them despite how she had been treated by them. There was still this trust between them even if it was on shaky ground. Of course there was Kellan. She wasn't going to leave him there, no matter what.
Rhys took her hand away from Jared. "I'm not going anywhere."
Before Garrett could yell at her and order Jared to physically take her away, she marched up to Garrett and came as close as she dared--almost nose to nose.
His silver eyes glared at her.
"I will not leave the ones in that study behind for you to kill, especially Kellan." She didn't care if Jared knew now, this was a war now. In a blink of an eye Garrett was sailing through the air and hit the wall. She was on top of him with a knife at his throat.
She glared at Jared. He didn't move.
"Where did you get that knife sis?"
She smirked. "It's yours bro, I borrowed it from your pocket. It's the only way I can get you to listen to me."
She held the knife firmly under his chin. He grinned up at her. "You're just as bad ass as I am. I'm impressed."
"I'm not like you," she said through gritted teeth. "I'll slit your throat if you don't agree to let them all go. I will not have anybody killed today."
Jared came a little closer.
"Stay back Jared. I will think nothing of slicing him."
"Sweetheart, why are you talking like that? Come and let me take you away to where it will be safe from all of this. Think of the twins!"
Her eyes widened at him. "I will not do as you want so back off." She turned her gaze back on Garrett. "You and I are going to make a family deal."
Garrett wasn't grinning anymore and Rhys knew that look in his eyes. He was going to attack her soon if she didn't act quickly. "Let's get you up." She helped him up and with one quick move had the knife firmly against his back ready to plunge it into his back.
"Lets go find your boys. Jared, lead the way and one heroic move will see a knife through Garrett's back."
Jared shook his head. "Do as she says Jared, let's amuse our little girl here."
She pushed the blade against his back making him flinch.
"Don't you try anything fancy either."
"I wouldn't dream of it sis."
Jared led the way out of the study and by this time Thor and the rest of them were in the foyer. They all went still when they saw Rhys with the knife behind Garrett's back. A small smile crossed over Thor's lips.
Ali and Rhys shared a look. Ali was at her side in seconds. "What do you want me to do?"
"Take this knife and don't hesitate to use it."
Ali grabbed the knife and held it against Garrett while Rhys went in front of them all. All eyes were on her and some of Garrett's hybrids had come in to see what was going on. They looked at Garrett who shook his head. They stood still.
"Thank you Garrett. We wouldn't want anything to happen to me now would we?"
"What do you want Rhys?"
"You already know that answer, I want them released. I will stay and be a good little sister if you let them go, if not I get to watch Ali shove a knife into you and we all fight your hybrids including me putting the twins at risk."
"Are you mad,? yelled Jared. You are willing to take are twins with you in death over them?"
Garrett laughed. "No Jared you have it wrong. She's using the twins as leverage. She still loves Kellan and will do anything to protect him."
Kellan's eyes went wide. Rhys could see his mouth open and then close. She swallowed hard.
"Give me an answer Garrett. What will it be?"
Garrett sighed. "I have no choice and you know it. I have to let them go. Our father cherishes those twins like they were real gold and of course his family to stay intact. You win."
Rhys narrowed her eyes at him. "You give me your word?"
Garrett nodded. "Our little family deal is sealed sis. I let them go and you belong to us."
She looked at Thor, Kellan and Ali. "You are free to go."
Ali looked at her. "What about you?"
"You heard Garrett, our little family deal has been made. I belong to them now."
Garrett gestured to his hybrids. "Escort them out will you."
The hybrids led them out the door. Kellan looked back at her confused. Her insides did a flip.
Garrett came in front of her blocking her view of Kellan.
"Now you listen to me sis. I let them go but don't think for once that they are just going to walk away and leave you here. One of them will get the stupid idea of trying to rescue you and when they do I will be ready. Each one of them will die and that includes Kellan."

SET BACKS

"What the hell," breathed out Rhys. "What are you doing here?"
Ali gave her a smug look. "I thought you would say something like that."
"Where did your thugs take Josh?"
"My thugs?"Ali marched up to Rhys. "I just saved your brother dear, you should thank me."
"Where is he," Rhys said though gritted teeth.
"He's back with daddy."
Rhys just about choked. "What? Are you working for Simon now?"
Ali sniffed. "It's all about surviving dear, you should know all about that. Of course you weren't  long turning your back on Kellan I see."
Rhys flew at her knocking her back. "How dare you! I gave up everything to save his life."
Ali growled at her and Rhys could feel the shift in her. She couldn't take on a wolf right now in her condition.
She backed off.
Ali grinned. "I thought you would think otherwise. I know you're carrying twins--Diamond were cat."
Rhys froze. "You know what I am?"
"How could I not? Simon told us about his precious Diamond were cat daughter and how at all costs that she has to be protected."
Rhys felt a chill go through her. "What happened to Kellan? Is he dead?"
Ali's eyes sparkled. "Still have feeling for him even though your carrying another were cats babies?"  She went to the door and shut it. "I have my orders and that is to keep you here for the time being until I get word from your daddy."
"You sure laid down like a dead dog didn't you?"
She growled at her and Rhys knew she would love to bite her head off.
"I didn't lay down for nobody dear. I will get my pack back, mark my word."
"How do you plan on doing that since Garrett took over your pack--kill him?"
"Never mind it's too complicated to get into with you and I don't particularly want to share it with you anyway."
"I see,"said Rhys. "So you are just to guard me till daddy gets heer and when will that be?"
She shrugged. "He will be here soon." Rhys picked up something in the way she said that. It had an undertone of something going on. Ali was on edge and Rhys took note of another thing. This attack was over. Everything was quiet. She couldn't quite figure this out. What was really going on?
Rhys edged her way over to the door to listen. The two young wolves that were guards were not there. She couldn't pick up their scent.
Rhys eyed Ali who was staring at the window as if she was expecting someone to come bursting through it.
She quietly rested her hand on the door handle watching Ali the whole time. She still had her speed and could out run a wolf. Without giving it a second thought Rhys flung the door open and ran out taking the stairs two a time. When she got to the landing she took a quick look up and Ali was staring down at her wide eyed. Rhys leaped the rest of the way down kicking the door open.
There was no one in the hallway or anywhere for that matter. She had to find Josh.
She picked one direction and went for it. Ali was going to be there in a few seconds.
Rhys stopped short when she picked up his scent--Kellan. He was alive. Relief washed over her. She went in the direction he was and when she got there he wasn't alone. Thor was with him.
Now she was confused. What the hell was going on? The attack, it did happen.
She stood at the opening of the study while they talked in low voices.
Rhys cleared her throat drawing their attention.
"What the hell are you doing out," growled Thor.
Rhys tilted her head at him. "Your bodyguard failed to do her job. I see you found Ali or she found you?"
Thor gritted his teeth.
Rhys marched in folding her arms. "What the hell is going on and where is Josh?"
Ali came rushing into the room although Rhys knew that she took her time.
Thor glanced over at her and gave her a dirty look but said nothing. Ali shut the door.
Rhys glanced over at Kellan who seemed to be studying her. Thor finally broke their stare by coming in front of Rhys. "You want to know what is going on? I'll tell you. This little group in here is going to take down Simon and Ali is keeping your little brother safe away from all this."
"And me? I don't count?"
"Oh you count. In a big way. The reason for the attack was to make it look real to those of Simon's and Garrett's pack. They will be here soon and the real attack will take place but we will have you for leverage."
Rhys raised an eyebrow up at him. "Leverage?"
"You're carrying two Diamond were cats and that is valuable."
"He will destroy you  and your little betrayers. It won't work."
Thor laughed. "That's what you think. It's just not our little pack here, we have others from here that would like to see Simon gone. They will help."
"You better hope they will," scoffed Rhys. "Because you're all dead otherwise." Her eyes rested on Kellan when she said that. His blue grey silver eyes shimmered at her. Her heart skipped a beat.
A knock at the door made them all turn.
One of the young wolves that was Rhys guard poked his head in. "We have trouble."
"What now,?" shouted Thor.
"Garrett and his pack are here and they want to talk."
"Garrett is here and not tearing the place apart?"
The young wolf shrugged his shoulders but Rhys could see fear in his eyes. That shook Rhys for some reason. Enough for her to go to the door.
"What are you doing?" Ali had grabbed her arm.
They looked at each other and Ali let go.
Rhys looked at them all.
"I'm going to talk to Garrett and I will settle this thing for once and for all." She took a deep breath and said. "If I don't come back in thirty minutes--fight like hell."
                                                                                 

CONFRONTATIONS

Kellan came back.
He stared at Josh and then Thor. He only glanced at Rhys who shifted with unease.
"What you got," barked Thor.
Kellan was slightly taken back. "The informant told me that he is on his way and he has plenty of back up."
Thor grimaced. Rhys could hear a low growl come from him and it was directed at Josh. Rhys knew that he was blaming Josh for bringing Simon here a little sooner than he wanted.
"We have to gather the pack and prepare-all of them. Go!"
Kellan quickly left the room. Thor started to pace.
Rhys looked over at Josh who now looked worried and maybe a little regretful for telling Thor but Rhys was glad that he did as now she knew and could maybe finally do something about the situation that they were in.
"Let me defuse Simon. He will listen to me."
Thor narrowed his eyes at her. He shook his head.  "Little kitten, I don't know now if I should trust you. This whole allies thing I think now was just a ruse."
Rhys bit the inside of her cheek. Damn, I have to defuse him first. I don't need a wild rampant were wolf on my hands.
"Okay so you don't trust me. Send me out front when he arrives. If one of his henchmen try to kill me then you will know you can trust me."
"You're willing to face his pack without knowing what they have in store for us?"
Rhys nodded.
"You're crazier than I am. No kitten you and your brother are worth more to me alive than dead. I have something to bargain with when you're alive. Let's get you and your brother to a safe holding place."
Thor marched to the door and gestured for someone to come. A couple of young men were at the door in seconds. He talked to them in low whispers so Rhys couldn't make out the orders. The two young men looked at her and Josh. She was guessing these two where going to be their body guards.
Thor looked back at her. "Follow us."
Josh stared at his sister. Rhys nodded at him. He went by her side and they both followed Thor and the two young men down the hallway and stopped at a door that Rhys hadn't paid much attention to.
Thor unlocked the door and opened it. Before them was a flight of stairs that went up to some secret room.
They were almost in total darkness. The smell of dust and mold made Rhys almost dizzy. She placed her hand on her stomach as if protecting her twins. There was a small window on the first landing of the stairs. Rhys looked out but could see nothing but a shed.
The final flight of stairs took them to another locked door. Thor unlocked it. Rhys had to wonder how Thor knew all these passages in the house.
The room was almost bare of furniture. Just a beat up old couch and chair along with a small table that didn't look too stable. Rhys was glad to see a window. She made her way over to it but  like the other window only looked onto the same shed.
"Sorry for the scant surrounding and all. Not quite like your room complete with room service but it will do, right?"
Rhys scoffed at him.
Thor just grinned. His cell phone buzzed and everyone in the room froze. Thor looked at them all and gestured to the two young men to follow him out the door. The cell phone still buzzed in his pocket as he locked the door. Rhys flew to the door to try and listen but everything was just too muffled and then nothing. Thor had left.
Rhys went back to the window. They were quite high up. If she could shift she would break the window and get down but she couldn't in her condition.
She looked at Josh but there was no way she was going to allow him to shift to his wolf form or cat form and go for help. She wouldn't risk getting him killed. For a moment she wondered if he was a hybrid like Garret. Maybe he wasn't.
Rhys shook all those thoughts out of her head and tried to focus on a way to get them out of the room.
Josh joined her at the window. "Do you think we can get out this window?"
"It's a long drop. No roof to go on. If I could shift maybe I could do it but in my condition I can't shift."
"I can. Let me shift into my wolf form and let me go out the window."
Rhys shook her head. "You would never make it. Cat's have more agility than a wolf."
She was waiting for him to say something about shifting into cat form but he didn't so Rhys concluded that her little brother was no hybrid.
A rumble from downstairs echoed. They both turned to each other.
"Do you think father is here," asked Josh.
Rhys shook her head. "I don't know."
More rumbling came and this time louder.
"I think the attack is now taking place. We have to get out of here. Let's see if those two young wolves are still outside our door."
Rhys marched over to the door to try and catch their scent. There was nothing. She turned back to Josh. "They're not there. I'll try and pick lock this door."
She reached inside her pocket and pulled out a clip. Rhys inserted it into the lock and jiggled it. It clicked. She smiled to herself. "These old locks are a piece of cake."
Josh was instantly by her side. She carefully opened the door. There was no one there. All she could see was the pale light from the window casting it's light up the stairs. Rhys gestured for Josh to follow her. They made it down to the landing. The noises from down stairs were getting louder and there was a lot of crashing of things. Then a sudden thought came to her. She wondered how Kellan was. Was he hurt? All of a sudden she had to get down there as fast as she could. Her and Josh just got down two steps when the door at the bottom flew open.
One yelled back to the others. "They're here."
Rhys shivered. She didn't get a good feeling about being found. Something told her that the ones who found them weren't here to rescue them.
She pushed Josh back up the stairs. "Let's get back to the room and lock the door."
"What? Why? They found us now."
Rhys looked straight at him. "I have this bad feeling that the ones that have found us are not the ones we want finding us."
"What are you talking about?"
Loud footsteps were coming up the stairs. Rhys grabbed him and threw him into the room. Before she made it in she was grabbed. Rhys kicked her attacker sending them back against the wall. Others came up the stairs. Rhys had to shut the door and buy them some time but they were too fast. Josh came to her defense and started fighting them along with Rhys.
But they were out numbered. Two of them grabbed Josh and dragged him downstairs.
Rhys rushed toward them but was quickly grabbed back. The back of her neck was hot with the breath of a wolf.
Rhys turned around to face her attacker and stepped back.
It was Ali.

BAD MOVES

Rhys almost spit at him. "I'm not one of your henchmen. If you want him gone that is your is job."
Thor's eyes were electric. "I thought you didn't care much for daddy. You wanted away from him to live your own life."
Rhys chewed the inside of her lip. "Yeah, something like that. I'm not going to kill him. I may not like him or I may even hate him but right now I have no reason to kill him-just yet."
Thor shook his head. "You're hard to read kitten. One minute you're ready to kill the whole works of them and now you're having second thoughts. Maybe I should reconsider being allies with you."
She smirked at him. "You want to be allies with me. You need me and you know it. And I was the one who suggested allies, remember?"
He crossed his arms and went over to where Kellan was standing. Rhys had almost forgotten that he was in the room. His eyes were going back and forth to them. She let out a steady breath. He had no idea who he was. It must be horrible she thought to not remember who you are. She had to do something about that. If she ever got a moment with Simon she would make him undo what he did. Even if it meant her exposure of who she really was to him.
Kellan and her locked eyes and this spark seemed to erupt between them. Rhys swallowed hard. Thor hit him on the arm breaking their contact.
"Go see what our contact has found out on where Simon is right now."
Kellan cleared his throat and left.
Rhys watched him leave shutting the door. She didn't realize how long she was staring when Thor cleared his throat.
She startled and felt the heat in her face grow warm. He was grinning. "You still have it bad for him don't you?"
Thor came around to the front of the desk. "You know Simon messed with his mind. He doesn't know your secret but I do. I could find away to get his memory back you know and then we can tell him who you really are."
Her eyes went wide. "You can get his memory back? Why haven't you done it?"
"Because of Simon and right now Kellan is quite cooperative the way he is."
Rhys gritted her teeth. "So you can run the show and give out the orders." She crossed her arms. "That suits you don't it?" Before he could respond she threw out a question  to him. "Why did you not ever have your own pack?"
His eyes narrowed in on her. "You think you know me pretty good don't you. You know nothing," he spit at her. "I had a good deal going with Ali until you came into Kellan's life. Then Ali had to get in on the hunt for the Diamond were cat."
"Does she know it's me or is she even alive since Garrett took over?"
Thor shrugged. "I missed all the action when Garrett took over. I never heard anything from her so I don't know."
"She's never tried to contact you?" Rhys knew she sounded like she didn't believe him but there was more to this than met the eye. Rhys could feel it.
Before he could answer her there was a knock on the door. The door opened before Thor could say come in.
It was Josh.
Rhys held her breath as Josh looked at her for just a moment and then addressed Thor.
"I have a message for you."
Thor just about growled at him. "What did you do?"
Josh grinned. "I didn't do anything. Father just gave me a message to give you. He says he on his way and he's mad as hell at you. I think that was what he said or else it was-you're going to hell."

UNEXPECTED PLANS

Rhys knew that Josh heard the conversation. She seen him disappear in a hurry. She also knew what he was thinking of her right now. Crazy was the first word that came into her head and another word also hovered in in her mind-traitor.
She let out a shaky breath. Rhys would deal with Josh later. Right now she had to find Jamie as she assumed Thor perhaps told her of their little agreement.
She was counting on it.
This would buy her trust perhaps and maybe inroads into this mess. One thing that puzzled her was why wasn't Simon breaking down the walls to his own place. He must know what went down. Or did he? She narrowed her eyes. Maybe Thor masterminded a pretty good plan here. She smirked. The bugger is smarter than what I thought.
A noise came from the office. Rhys decided to check it out. She quietly slipped down the hallway and stayed at the edge of the doorway and peered in. Her heart skipped a beat.
It was Kellan and he was alone.
His scent washed over her taking her to another time. Memories of him and her flooded her head taking her back to when she was the center of his life. It  almost hurt her chest as visions danced in front of her eyes of him smiling down at her with those silver eyes.
She gave her head a slight shake to bring herself back to reality. Rhys watched him as he was going through papers. There were stacks of papers on the desk that had been taken out of the filing cabinet. Rhys wondered what he was looking for.
Kellan ran his hand through his thick hair. She could feel the frustration in his body as if it was her own body. A sensation warmed her body as she watched him. She could see the muscle under his pale blue shirt tense. She so badly right now wanted to feel those tense muscles around her body. Her eyes half closed as she tried to remember what he felt like when her fingers use to travel the leanness of his body. Rhys remembered what he looked like naked and her mouth dropped open partly. She could almost feel his tight grip on her hip squeezing her as his hand travelled down between her legs. He was master of her domain.
His faded jeans were slightly ripped at the knee and hung a bit a low. She liked that pair on him the best. The material was soft and supple. The rip up by the waist was made by her as she one time tried to claw off those jeans.
She visualized walking up to him right now and slipping her arms around his waist and down into his pants. The reaction that he would have-that she wanted him to have in her mind. Getting hard for her and letting her know that she better not be just teasing him.
She smiled to herself. Oh the trouble she could get herself into with him and the "punishment" he would dole out to her.
It would be intoxicating.
Lying underneath him with his silver eyes looking down at her ready to take complete control over her made her wet. She could almost feel him enter her slowly and then with full force. A short gasp caught in her throat.
She realised she had just drawn his attention.
They stared at each other as the heat in her face got hotter and hotter. His lips slowly formed a smile.
"Why are you standing out here?"
Rhys startled as Thor stood beside her.
Her tongue was tied in knots.
"Come on lets go in shall we and discuss our little "alliance".
She followed Thor into the room. Thor went to the pile of papers on the table and looked at Kellan.
"Did you find it?"
Kellan shook his head. "He must have put it somewhere else."
Rhys had to sit down and collect herself. Being in the same room with Kellan was throwing her off her game.
Thor glanced over at her. "What is wrong with you?"
"Nothing," she snapped back at him. "I was just wondering what all of this is."
"This" is what your old man keeps from the rest of us. It evolves other packs that he is involved with. We need to know who they are here so we can be careful of who we approach."
"What were you really looking for?" Rhys narrowed her gaze at Thor trying to read him but he was such a complex creature it was hard to get a hold of where his head was at.
Thor bit his lip and she knew he was contemplating telling her but he had to decide if he trusted her enough.
"I'll tell you when I find it."
Kellan leaned against the desk making the rip she had made by his waist stretch a bit revealing more of his skin. She took a deep breath and tore her eyes away and focused on Thor.
"So what is the plan? I thought Simon would have torn down this house by now."
Thor chuckled. "Oh, he will when he finds out."
"He doesn't know?" Rhys thoughts about Simon were just confirmed. He didn't know.
Thor looked at her with his dark silver blue eyes. "But he will soon."
"You're going to tell him."
"No, I'm not going to tell him."
"Then what?" Rhys threw her hands up in the air.
"You're going to tell him."
Her hands flopped into her lap. "I'm going to tell him?"
"Yup, and you're going to bring him here."
Rhys was confused. "Why do you want me to bring him here?"
"Because I have a job for you."
Rhys crossed her arms. "What "job" would that be?"
"You're going to kill him."

CREATING ALLIES

Josh sat in the kitchen playing with his spoon. He was thinking about what Rhys had said. He wondered if he could just ask her what the hell was going on.
He knew he couldn't.
He took a deep breath, shoved his bowl of cereal to the side and dragged his cell phone over. He tapped the screen with his finger bringing up his contacts. What was he going to say he thought. He remembered what Rhys said. That she wanted to come up to him so badly. Was Rhys right?
There was only one way to find out.
He stared at the screen waiting for a response but nothing. He smirked and shook his head. Just what I thought.
Josh shoved his chair out and went to get up when his phone vibrated. His eyes widened. Without touching it he looked down at the screen.
It was her.
He held his breath as he picked it up to read it. Meet me in the library.
Josh could hardly swallow. His heart started to pick up a faster pace and his hands suddenly got sweaty.
He grabbed the phone and went out the kitchen. His strides to the library weren't fast enough. Josh didn't think he would ever get there.
The door was partially open. He took a peek in. Her back was to him.
Josh took a deep breath and tried to steady the thumping in his chest. He knocked gently. She turned around and faced him. For a moment all they did was stare at each other.
When Josh finally entered the room she came flying over to him and threw her arms around him. Josh let out a silent puff of air. Rhys was right.
She looked up at him. "I've been miserable without you."
"Then why did you leave me?"
Her eyes cast down to the floor. Josh pulled her face up with his fingers under her chin. "Talk to me, Jamie. What the hell is going on? Is there someone controlling you?"
Her dark green eyes widened up at him. "I can't tell you anything."
Josh could feel the fear from her on his skin. It made him shiver.
"Jamie, I want you to tell me everything. I won't let them hurt you."
Her eyes became glossy. All she could do was shake her head.
He pulled her into his arms. "It's okay."
"This is cozy."
Both of them startled and turned to the door. Thor stood there grinning. "Are we having a little reunion here? What did I tell you Jamie about the enemy and who the enemy was?"
She pulled away from Josh. He tried to pull her back but she wouldn't let him.
Josh threw an angry glance at Thor. "What lies have you filled her head with or should I say what threats have you made on her?"
Thor chuckled.
"Take it easy pup, I didn't have to threaten her. All I had to do was tell her the truth."
Josh smirked. "Your truth would amount to lies."
He looked over at Jamie. "You have to know that what he is doing is wrong. He kidnapped my sister and me. He just wants revenge against father."
Jamie just kept looking from Josh to Thor. Josh positioned himself between her and Thor blocking her vision of him. "Listen to me Jamie. He is using you here in this game of his. You have to break a way from him before he gets you killed."
Her lower lip quivered.
Now he was only inches away from her. "Look at me." Her teary eyes looked up at him. "Have I ever lied to you?"
She gave her head a quick shake.
"Then you will believe me when I tell you that you are in great danger being with him. You will be nothing but causality to him when the war breaks out."
Jamie was starting to lose it.
"That's enough pup." He shoved him a side and grabbed Jamie by the arm. "This is enough reunion for you."
He marched her out of the room. Josh was hot on their trail. They made it just part way down the hallway when Josh was grabbed. He furiously turned around to see who was stopping him. It was Rhys.
"What are you doing? Can't you see he's hurting her?"
Rhys was stone faced. "He's not going to hurt her, at least not right now. But he will hurt you to get her to do his bidding so I would stop irritating him."
"I can't let him get a way with this."
Rhys grabbed Josh roughly by the arm. "You leave Thor alone. I'll take care of him. I know how he operates."
He glared at her. "What are you going to do then?"
Rhys tilted her head at him. "Just trust me okay little brother. I know how to handle the likes of Thor. I've confronted his type before."
Josh smirked. "So you have no plan at all, is what you're saying."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "I should cuff your ears for that. But I will show you instead." Her eyes went behind him. Josh looked. Thor was standing at the end of the hallway talking to Kellan.
"You still love him don't you?"
Rhys cleared her throat. "Never mind that. I will deal with that later. For now I have to talk to Thor."
She walked past Josh and walked briskly up to the men. They both stopped talking and stared at her.
"I want to talk to you Thor, privately." Her eyes glanced over at Kellan. His scent filled her and almost made her sway but she stopped herself.  I have to stay in control.
Thor smiled at Kellan and then her. "I'll grant you one minute of of my precious time kitten and then back to your room you go. Between you and your little brother, you two are giving me a headache." He looked at Kellan. "I'll meet up with you."
Kellan and Rhys looked at one another for a second before he turned and left. Rhys watched him for a moment. She didn't realize Thor was almost nose to nose with her.
"He gets to you still, don't he?"
Rhys gritted her teeth and with one swift movement threw Thor over her shoulder. Now she was standing over him with her high heeled boot on his chest.
He was grinning up at her.
Rhys cautiously  bent down toward him. "You and I have something to discuss."
"What would that be kitten?"
"We're going to talk about becoming allies."
Thor chuckled. "Now that's the kitten I know."