Asher made me take a whole month of to be with my mate and child. The need to find and capture the arsonist was a constant burning coal in my belly. Every day, I lived in the fear that today would be the day he came after someone I loved.

The month passed quickly though, and I enjoyed every second of it. If it hadn't been for the arsonist, I would have taken longer. But this morning was my first morning back, and Asher held an all pack meeting with all the members present, not just the alphas. I was surprised to see Meredith and a human man also in attendance. I nodded my greeting but took my place without questioning them.

"Glad to see you finally decided to stop slacking," Asher said. I graced him with a withering glare, but it just made him laugh.

"Thank you everyone for coming. Caspar and I have been in deep conversation over the last few days, and we wanted to speak with everyone." Asher gestured toward Caspar, who stood and met each person’s gaze briefly.

"You are all familiar with Meredith, and I would like to introduce Elder Talon. He is one of the leaders of Meredith's society. Ever since the night of the fire that brought Benjamin to us, I have been searching for the arsonist, for his place in the paths." Caspar paused, as if waiting for response or deliberating his next words.

Of course it was Simon, the impatient, who spoke before Caspar continued. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Caspar is a seer. It is an honorable gift, and I still cannot understand why he feels the need to hide it from you, his pack and family." Meredith glared at Caspar with a look that indicated that this was a long-held disagreement between the two of them.

"Peace, Meredith." Talon held his arm out before her. "We do not know Caspar's path. The rest of the world is not so accepting of the gifts as we are." He nodded to Casper, while Meredith ducked her head in acquiescence.

Casper seemed unfazed by their disagreement. "As I have told our Alpha, I hesitate to meddle in the paths of others, but it has become inevitable. Even though I must act, however, I don't always know when or how I should. I do not see everything. The visions come as they will, not as I will. And you are right, Elder Talon, the world is rarely kind to gifted souls, though few are as manipulative and vile as the man we have been seeking, the man who took your child, Benjamin, because he was gifted."

Casper looked at Benjamin with a heavy expectation, but Benjamin looked away.

"Were you aware of your son's gift?" Asher asked.

"I… suspected. Liam has always been very empathetic, but he's our first… I just thought I was being an overly proud parent, seeing a uniqueness that wasn't there."

Caspar waited until Benjamin met his eyes again. "Liam is very unique, as are the rest of the children under Emerson Wamp's control. I believe the reason we have not found traces of him the last few months is not because he is gone into hiding or because he has stopped burning homes and taking children, but because the authorities can no longer tell that the fires are unnatural."

"The official report on Benjamin's house couldn't determine the origin of the fire," Kurt said, speaking up for the first time.

Caspar nodded. "Emerson Wamp has found himself a phoenix, a phoenix in the youth of his cycle, who has not yet come into the knowledge of who he is."

Simon scoffed. "Phoenix are just a myth. Next thing you know you'll be telling us that unicorns are hiding in our woods."

Casper found Simon in disappointment. "It would be better for all of us if they were only myths. The Ancients are returning, and if we do not save the young phoenix it will spell our doom."

Casper's pronouncement fell with the dark and heavy certainty on the room. Asher stood to face Casper.

"I think the time for secrecy is coming to an end," Asher said. "Ignorance will do us more harm than anything else right now."

Casper met his Alpha's eyes and nodded. "That is why I invited Elder Talon to this meeting. The trade-ins have more knowledge than any other human about the ancients and the danger they carry with them."

I pulled Nick and Patrick close, feeling the burden that had been upon me since his birth increased tenfold.

"Elder Talon, what do we need to know?" Asher spread his hands in supplication before the older man.

Elder Talon sighed. "I had begun to hope that this day would not come in my lifetime. Taravan must be laughing at me. I will begin with as simple a story as I can, but the knowledge that we need to fight the coming war is held by no human mind. Our library is but a small portion of the knowledge of our society, but we will join you, and share whatever it is we have to ensure the future for our children." He gazed fondly but sadly over the gathered children and infants.

"Let us begin now," Asher said, taking his seat.

I looked around at the pack I had come to call family. I would do anything for them. I would do everything for my mate and child. I only hoped that it would not come to that.