Elizabeth pulled out her phone and checked the time. "Come on Meryn, we still need to go to the book store for your history books and that lovely pastry shop before we head back to the estate." She turned to Sydney and held up her empty cup. "Can I get one to go?"

Meryn drained her cup. "Me too, please. When we get back we have to start on those databases and if I'm not caffeinated the lines of code blur together."

"I'll make them extra-large." Sydney stood and started their drinks.

"Thanks, Sydney." Meryn turned to her. "What do you think the guys are doing?"

"Probably working very hard at being muscular and training with their clubs and sticks."

Meryn laughed. "They are so boring."

"We put up with them anyway," Elizabeth smiled.

*****

"I installed the spell alarm over the front windows," Quinn said wiping his hands.

Aiden looked at the small runes in the window frame. "Good work."

Colton walked over to them carrying a large box and handed it to Gavriel with a grunt. Gavriel looked down at the box, then back up to Colton.

"It's C4; can you run it back to the armory? I confiscated it from Graham, I think he's forgetting we actually have to live here. I want to head back before they sneak something else in." Colton turned and hurried back the way he came.

Aiden's eyes widened and he started walking toward the backdoor. "Graham!"

Gavriel shook his head and decided to take the long way around to avoid that argument. He walked out of the front door and around the house. He was on his way back from the armory when he heard someone call his name.

"Gavriel. Gavriel Ambrosios."

He stopped and looked around. Moving slowly he reached behind him under his jacket and grabbed his gun.

"Tssk, tssk. No need to get violent, I just wanted to chat."

Gavriel pulled the gun, released the safety and brought it up.

"Come out where I can see you, then we can talk," he suggested.

"I am out where you can see me; maybe your transition is messing with your eyesight."

Gavriel flinched. The disembodied voice chuckled. "Oh yes, we know about that. You're at your weakest, aren't you? We've been watching you. Everyday you're one step closer to becoming like us. I'm here to tell you, you have been chosen."

"I am nothing like you. I have a mate, my soul is anchored. Chosen for what?" he asked.

"You'll see."

"And if I refuse?"

"You won't have a choice. Ta ta for now."

Gavriel swiveled to the left, then to the right, he couldn't hear anything. Cursing, he walked backwards to the porch before putting his gun away. The bastards were too close to home for his comfort, especially now that his mate was here.

Walking inside Gavriel spotted Oron Vi'Eirson and Christoff Du'Prince, the fae and vampire warriors from the Gamma Unit.

"Can you do a full perimeter sweep? Check for any signs of an intruder and report back. Be on alert." Both men saluted. Oron pulled out his gun and checked the chamber. "You look a bit spooked sir. Are we checking for anything in particular?"

Gavriel growled and both men straightened. He knew it wasn't like him to show emotion, but the transition was making him volatile.

"Another one of those invisible bastards showed up here at the Alpha estate not five minutes ago. Start north and head around east. I'm going to find Aiden and send a second group south. Check in every five minutes."

"Those fucks! I'm getting real sick of this shit." Christoff bared his fangs and hissed. The large fae clapped him on the back. "Cheer up, we may find them this time." Christoff's answering grin was scary. Oron turned to Gavriel, "We'll be back, sir."

Gavriel went inside to search for Aiden. He found him and pulled him and Colton into the hallway. "I just had a feral stop me outside, seemed he wanted to talk. I didn't see a bloody thing though." Gavriel ran a hand through his hair.

Colton growled. "Sonofabitch! They are getting bold coming up to the Alpha estate. What did he say?" Colton asked. Gavriel could see his jaw was tight. Aiden hadn't said a word but anger was rolling off of him in waves.

"Basically that 'they' knew I was in transition and at my weakest." He turned to Aiden. "Maybe these alarms and defense enhancements aren't such a bad idea. We need to also check into figuring out a spell that can be used to set a perimeter. I don't like how close they're coming, especially when we can't see them."

Aiden had to take two deep breaths before he answered. "We need to get a unit out there looking for them."

Gavriel nodded, "I sent Oron and Christoff out, they are heading north."

"Then we'll get the rest of their unit to join them and send Beta south. Tell Keelan and Darian that Alpha Unit is house sitting for a couple days while we figure out a way to set a perimeter."

Colton nodded and pushed off the wall. "I'll get everyone moving. I can't sit still right now. What if Meryn or Elizabeth had been back there?" he asked quietly clenching his fists.

Gavriel felt his stomach turn. "We can't think like that, it will be a distraction. Let's concentrate on what we can do."

"I'm going to pull Keelan, Quinn Foxglove from Gamma and Kade Burdock from Beta to start on spell research." Aiden didn't say another word and walked away. Gavriel knew how he felt.