In searching for Graeme's scent, Sam ran to the treehouse first thinking that would be the most likely place Graeme and August would be if they were still on pack land and had the freedom of picking their location. But the treehouse was deserted with only the faint scent of them that was days old.

From the treehouse, he ran through the forest path to Mama May's, to the sunflower field, to Maggie's cottage, and still not finding even a hint of Graeme's scent trail, his anxiety began to escalate. So much time had gone by, and if he truly was going to need to cover the entirety of pack land to find them, it was too big of a job to handle alone. He was going to need help.

Sam returned to the pack house and found his mate waiting anxiously where he had left her. She rushed to him as soon as she sensed his return, desperately hoping that he had found something. People were starting to notice Graeme and August's absence and were asking questions. She didn't know what to tell them, so she was as vaguely reassuring about their eventual return as she could be, but at this point she was close to bursting into tears.

"You didn't find anything?

" she asked, the terror pricking her eyes that reflected the flames from he bonfire.

"I found Lucas. He was hurt,

" Sam told her.

"He has already made it back,

" Greta nodded.

Lucas had come struggling past her out of the woods and toward the pack house holding his side. She asked him about what had happened in a hushed voice to avoid alerting others, and he told her everything that he had relayed to Sam. There were unknown lycans out in the woods. The vampire had attacked him. He didn't know where Graeme and August were.

"So there is another pack here as well?

" Greta asked, referring to the lycans that Lucas told her about.

"I don't know. If they are working with the vampire…

" Sam trailed off, not being able to finish the thought.

If another pack was working with the creature, then that would be war on another front once they found out which pack it was. And who would be stupid enough to do that? There wasn't a single pack he could think of that would align themselves with a vampire for the purpose of gathering alyko. It made no sense.

"Lucas said they all had disguised their scents,

" she whispered.

It was extremely difficult to disguise one's scent and took a lot of practice. If a pack actually had members who were capable of it, they were typically only a few in number. To have an entire group of them like that? It was unfathomable.

"That's what Lucas said, and I didn't scent any outsiders anywhere. I also didn't see any, but I found some of their tracks,

" he said.

"Listen, we're going to need more people helping to find them. There's just too much ground to cover.

"

"What's going on my loves? Where are our Alpha and Luna?

" Sylvia approached them, sensing the tension that was building between the two. Charlotte was right behind her.

Greta and Sam glanced at each other, the agreement that it was time to relay the news to the two elder females passing between them. Greta explained everything they knew that had occurred, including Andreas' escape from the cell and voluntary walk into the fire.

"We need to search for them,

" Sylvia said quickly, turning to Charlotte to get her input. Charlotte nodded, her expression grave.

"The time for protecting the pack from this information has passed. Let's not make a big announcement yet, because hysteria will add to the chaos and difficult in finding them. But the guards can all be told to slip out and meet you in the market for the details and an organized search plan,

" she spoke with the calm wisdom of her station.

"I'll go spread the word to the guards,

" Greta said, running off.

"Let's ask our females to help,

" Charlotte turned to Sylvia.

The females she was referring to were those in their sacred circle. They were a reliable, mature group who could be depended upon to keep this under wraps for the time being. And the fact that they were also a close knit group meant that they would work well cooperating together.

Sylvia nodded her agreement.

"Raya and Liv are excellent trackers,

" she added.

"I'll go gather them.

"

"Everyone will meet you in the market, Sam. Come up with a way to organize them for the search. You should also consider where the intruders might gather if they are still on pack land,

" she suggested.

"I will stay here and look out.

"

"Thank you, Charlotte,

" he touched her arm as he passed her in the direction of the market.

This was where the Beta position became so important. Sam was second in command, but he never would have imagined that he would be needing to organize something like this in Graeme's stead, much less a search with Graeme as the target. Tonight was going so differently than what they had planned.

"What's going on?

" his cousin Jack jogged up next to him, seeing the look of distress and determination on Sam's face as he walked away from he pack house.

"Walk with me, I will fill you in,

" Sam told him. Jack would be a good asset as well.

After everyone who was rounded up gathered in the center of the market awaiting instructions, Sam sent them off in pairs to specific locations. He had made a grid out of the pack land to ensure that everywhere was covered. Graeme's scent should be found within a short time this way, and once it was, Sam was to be notified.

"Where are we looking?

" Jack asked after everyone had dispersed. Sam had chosen Jack as his own partner for the search.

"There is one place I haven't looked yet that could be a possible location for the vampire and his team to hide out. The outpost.. That's where we are headed,

" Sam told him, and they both shifted into their wolves before racing off in that direction.