Everyone was curious to know how the Guardian managed to get into the heart of the Midnight Guardians pack, so Talia explained, "Vincent used his ability to come through the same portal as we did. He pretended that he is a member of the scouting group that left for the human realm and said to the guards that he had something important to report to the Alpha. He would leave with the same identity and a story that he was heading to reunite with his group."
Axel, Tyler, and Kai exchanged glances at this, and Damon had to say, "All this is telling us that the Guardian knew about your protocols, and it was not his first time here."
Talia confirmed. "Vincent would come here and take on the identity of one of the pack members so that he can gather information related to current happenings or gossip circulating. He didn't ask questions and he avoided crowded places like the cafeteria in order to avoid being exposed."
"I will re-shuffle warriors on guard duty", Kai said.
Axel felt that was not enough. "Let's come up with ways to create layers in information."
"Let's pick a few people who will know who gets in and out of the portal, and we should add codewords to confirm identity.", Tyler added.
Yasmin was trying to brighten up the mood. "It's a good thing that Guardians don't have another portal."
"I wouldn't be so quick to celebrate.", Talia said dryly, and everyone looked at her in panic while wondering what that means. "I am confident that not so long ago, Guardians used a different way to enter this realm. Something happened, and that passage was closed, so now they are using this portal."
"Is that why this Guardian was here? To find a way to reopen that passage?", Axel asked.
"No. He was here with the goal to approach your parents in order to gather information about me.", Talia said flatly without mincing her words.
"My parents? Do they know each other from before? Are my parents aware that he is an outsider?", Axel asked in disbelief.
"That, I don't know", Talia said. "I am hoping that Sophia and Isaac can be honest about this because it impacts the security of this pack."
Talia saw in Vincent's memories scenes with Sophia and Isaac, but the images were fragmented and she was not sure if Vincent interacted with them.
Axel was troubled. After being stripped of their abilities and positions, Sophia and Isaac retreated into a separate dwelling and Axel had people watching them. What if his parents managed to get those people to look the other way while they worked against Talia?
Talia decided to share more information she got from Vincent. "How much Vincent knows; he is the only Guardian in this realm. Other Guardians are aware of this realm and how to get here, but only Vincent is allowed to come with the assumption that he won't be caught because of his ability to disguise himself."
"If they are so powerful, why are they hiding?", Yasmin asked Talia.
"The Guardians fear that if we know about them using this portal, we will close it."
"If you close it, the whole pack will be trapped.", Damon said. "Guardians don't know that you can re-open the portal."
"True, but…", Talia hesitated. "The Guardians are aware that unmated members of the Midnight Guardians pack have dormant powers. They are keeping an eye on the portal while waiting for people who are escaping from here."
"Why?", Sandy asked.
"Do you remember the stories about powerful females being coveted because of the offspring they can produce?", Talia responded with a question and the whole study descended into a tense silence.
Meg was the first one to speak, "Are you saying that the Guardians are capturing pack members who escaped through the portal and are taking them away for experimenting and breeding?"
Talia's troubled expression was confirmation no one wanted to hear.
Axel rubbed his face forcibly. If things were like this, no wonder why no one who left came back.
"Are members of the Midnight Guardians pack held by the Guardians against their will?", Tyler asked while rage rippled through him. One of his friends left the Midnight Guardians pack in search of his mate. Was he in some dungeon, or in a lab? If that was true, they were facing formidable opponents. How are they supposed to fight against them?
"The Guardians see themselves as superior compared to other creatures.", Talia said. "How much I've seen in Vincent's memories, they are not using force, but there are other ways to persuade a person."
They all stared at Talia while imagining what those 'ways of persuasion' might be.
Damon's hold on Talia tightened. "You said that the Guardian came here to get information on you. Why?" Were they planning to capture Talia for that breeding monstrosity? She was mated, so she definitely won't accept it willingly, but what if they make her not feel the bond? What if they erase her memories of him? What if they make her believe that she loves one of them?
Talia could sense Damon's fury and anguish swelling and she was quick to put her palms on his cheeks and make him look at her.
"His instructions were to come here and find out whatever he can about me from ex-Alphas."
Talia cursed herself for bringing up how powerful females were coveted without thinking that it can apply to her as well. Now Damon was sizzling with rage, and he was in danger of blowing up, and Talia couldn't blame him because she would be the same if she was not so exhausted.
Talia wanted to change the topic. "Last night, Vincent overheard that Damon and I are mates, and that I'm powerful, but that's as far as he went. It doesn't matter if the Guardians know that Damon is my mate, because everyone will know about it soon." She turned to Yasmin and Cornelia. "No one spoke about witches, and he didn't ask because he didn't know about it. Your identity is safe."
"For now.", Axel said stiffly.
They were all unsettled.
"What are we going to do about the Guardian?", Kai asked.
"We can't kill him, and we can't keep him here either.", Talia said, making everyone look at her.
"You suggest that we let him go?", Sandy asked with disbelief obvious in her voice.
Damon released a low growl that made Sandy lower her head right away in submission.
"Your Alpha is not suggesting. She is giving orders.", Damon said.
Talia's hand quickly patted Damon's back in an attempt to pacify him. Everyone was tense and infighting won't help anyone.
So far silent James spoke for everyone to understand, "Alpha Talia doesn't want to release the prisoner, but she has to. If he doesn't return in time, other Guardians will come to investigate. We all heard that they have abilities, and can suppress Alpha's aura, and we can assume that there is more than that. Just the fact that Alphas treat Guardians with respect should be a warning not to take them lightly. We might be able to handle one or two of them, but what if a dozen of Guardians appear, each with a different ability?"
