Malek’s p.o.v. It has been a week since we found Iniko in the Omega stairwell and our plan of attack on Seven Cloud Pack is now complete. We will head out on foot, each team taking its own route to Seven Cloud territory. Some of us will be in position before the other teams, but this will give us time to examine their border patrols and use that information to our advantage. Barison has been pacing in the back of my head since we woke up, because he wants to get on the road and deal with Alpha Devlin. “You all have your instructions. Team Red will be the first to reach Seven Cloud territory. Report to Meadow when you are in position.” Captain Miles says. We hoist our backpacks onto our backs and the ground trembles a little as we start walking away from the Pack-house. Many Pack-members are watching as we leave on our mission and we wave at the little kids who have joined their parents. It will take almost a week before every team has reached its destination and we hope we can move into the territory within a day. Once we have gotten Marley and Layina out of the territory, Alpha Lincoln will be contacted and SUVs will be sent to our rendezvous point. None of us wants to let the women walk back to Gold Moon territory.Each team has instructions to stay as far away from other Packs along the way. We can’t risk getting exposed to Alpha Devlin. “How well protected do you think they are?” Mauro asks. I know he isn’t just referring to Marley and Layina; he also means the Squad members who have been held prisoner all these years. “I doubt that he has Warriors watching his Mate all day long. She is in no condition to run off. The prisoners are a different story; those without a Mate will make a run for it the first chance they get.” I answer him. “Let’s hope that we can get them all out without too much trouble.” Mauro says as we start to climb a mid-sized mountain. Most of the time, our team walks in silence, but occasionally, someone asks a question or makes a remark about our surroundings. As we reach the top of the mountain and settle down for the night, it is starting to get dark. It takes a few minutes to hand out the tasks for setting up and preparing dinner. This will be our routine until we reach Seven Cloud territory. Once we reach our destination, we will have to adjust to different circumstances and keep out of sight. Meadow will use the time to get a sense of the territory, while we take turns in watching their patrols. We stay off the main roads, walking through the dense forest and climbing mountains when necessary. It is the easiest way to avoid other Packs and Barison loves climbing mountains, so I shift whenever we reach one.After four nights of sleeping on mountain tops or in caves, we reach our destination and from here on out, we will sleep on the forest floor. Mauro and I are in the first group to watch their border and it surprises me how quiet the patrol teams are. I strain my hearing, but I can barely hear anyone talking. It leads me to believe that either no one is near the borders or they have instructions to keep quiet. I know it isn’t smart to talk too much during patrol, but never saying a word is a bit much, if you ask me. “Do they only communicate through the mind-link?” I ask Mauro. We both keep an eye on the Warriors as they pass us, but they don’t seem to communicate at all. After we have been relieved, I inform Meadow about the lack of communication between the Warriors and like me, she doesn’t understand it. “Keep an eye on the Warriors. I want to know if they have communicated at all.” Meadow says that through the mind-link, everyone in our vicinity looks confused. I explain through the mind-link what Mauro and I observed, how it doesn’t make sense not to communicate on their patrols. Even if nothing eventful happened during their patrol, an Alpha usually wants to know these things. Early the next morning, our second team arrives and Meadow gives them an update on everything we have discovered so far. Our third and fourth teams arrive at the borders in the following hours and we get a new update every four hours for all scout groups.Meadow is making notes on her notepad, while Magnus and Milcah are testing their ability. They have already figured out that they cannot determine how many Shifters are in a group, but they are able to sense whether it is a small or large group of Shifters. Our camp is far enough from their borders for us to have a whispered conversation, but mostly we communicate through the mind-link to avoid detection. On the second day, three more teams arrive during the day and our reports are getting more detailed. So far, no one has seen or heard the Warriors communicate and I know I am going to discuss this with Dad. “Do you think that Dad might understand their lack of sharing information?” I ask Mauro while we are watching the patrols walk by. “He might. Dad knows a lot about how the Packs used to run border patrols; he could have an explanation for this as well.” Mauro answers. Sounds like I will have to wait for an answer until I can talk to Dad. Until then, I will have to be patient and accept that Alpha Devlin has a rather peculiar way of running border patrols. Sleeping on the forest floor is better than on a mountain top. I get more rest, but Barison misses being in control during the nights. It was easier to sleep on the mountain in my Shifter form, but I believe it is best if we stay in Human form for the time being. By the time we spend our seventh night under the stars, all ten teams have reached their destination and all the details have been discussed for our plan of attack. Tomorrow night, we will make our move and hopefully be on our way home the following morning.