Nancy

**Damon**
It was quite dark by the time I decided to go back home for a quick second, just to check up on Jasmine. Even though she was being childish, and annoyingly so, I still needed to make sure she was in an adequately sane mental state... and not partaking in any action that would be considered stupid- such as opening the letter without me. And as I thought this, again, and again in my mind while I walked through the wooded area, almost towards the edge of it where the pack grounds and woods met, I finally let realisation set in. I had been played.
"Damn it Jasmine! That's why you've been acting so spoiled!" I uttered this as I began picking up the pace. I'd been so preoccupied with my duties and the people around me that I refused to see it, to see her and her actions. She was doing something stupid, but so predictably so. And I was too worried about other things to focus on her, especially her glaringly obvious actions.
This idea, however, made a crucial question rise: was there someone else who took the opportunity to focus on her instead? And that's when my blood turned cold as another wave of realisation sunk in. I'd left her unattended, the one person I should have been looking out for this whole time. This was all a distraction, one which relied on the predictability of both Jasmine and I. They knew she would pull a stunt like this and that I’d be too paranoid to draw my attention away from the security of my pack. And so, I quickened the pace even more, now driven by unending panic. But I soon came to an abrupt halt as London jumped in front of me, stern and in no mood for games.
"Damon, what the hell is going on here?" She asked, placing her hands on my chest to prevent me from moving any further.
I shook my head at her and attempted to push past her, but she grabbed my hand and shoved at me, forcing me to stumble back and look at her. Her eyes were now darker, more serious.
"No, tell me what the hell is going on first! Teressa is injured and-"
I froze and looked at her, now completely overtaken by worry. "Teressa is injured?"
London hesitated for a moment before nodding- now with a face which shifted from its stern expression to one of panic- and then finishing off with an almost terrified, "And there's a strange woman in your house. I saw her as I was passing by, standing in the window. I thought she was a friend of Jasmine’s, so I didn't go inside, but judging by your reactions right now and the urgency all over your face, I sense something is wrong?"
I nodded and then told her, "I am going to go back home now. You keep your eyes open for any intruders entering or leaving the pack... from this point on, London, you're the Alpha again. And when this is all over, I'll explain everything to you, but for now, I need you to do as you're told. Understood? This is urgent, a matter of life and death. Can I count on you?"
London nodded sternly before walking forward in the opposite direction that I was going. I knew I could count on her in situations such as these, even back when the air between the both of us had been thick and uncomfortable.
As I took quick steps forward, my mind began to travel to the strange woman London had mentioned. Jade- it had to have been. And now, the more I thought about it, it was no wonder the first round was so easy. It was all another trick. I was stupid to have underestimated Lucien. He was clearly still the same little genius he had always been. 'The Little Tactician' that's what my mother used to call him. He was, by far, the smartest of all of the Michaels siblings. In fact, he was always our better. The best of the blood. He was stronger, more attractive, faster, more charming and charismatic. By definition, he had always been no less than absolutely perfect. He outranked London and I in every possible way. So then why... why did my father choose me as his successor instead of him? And that's when it hit me as I ran into my yard. The betrayal he claimed I committed, the hurt and suffering I put him through, I finally understood it all.
The moment I stepped into the house, the air developed a sudden thick chill to it, freezing me to the core with every single breath I took. I couldn't smell Jasmine anymore, nor could I smell anything else, save for the pungent scent of wine coming from further into the interior of the house. I approached cautiously, hoping to find some clues to her whereabouts, and yet still weary of Jade who I suspected was still roaming around the house. My suspicions were proven right when I entered into the dining room with her sitting at the table, surrounded by not only blood, but wine. It was, however, from what I could discern from the weak scent, not Jasmine's. The scent was unfamiliar to me, and also still different to Jade's. Jade looked up at me, after taking a sip of wine from one of the glasses, frowning deeply, and then setting it down on the table in distaste.
"Fancy meeting you here. You just missed your girlfriend. My sister took her for an outing, we'll be joining them later."
"Sister?" I uttered out confused, slowly beginning to clench and unclench my fists. I was literally gripping on fine threads of self-control. I knew that if I lost it for a split second, I would tear her to shreds and then have no hope of finding Jasmine at all.
Jade nodded, before using the shards of glass on the floor to make a clean cut in her palm. Then suddenly, she poured the glass of wine onto her palm, winced and turned back towards me.
"You truly are such a looker," She said, now reaching below the table, next to one of the legs. I could not make out what she was retrieving from it, but still kept a close eye on her. It was only when she lifted the item in the air that I realised what it was: a gas canister. She shook it quickly before throwing it onto the floor, preventing me from even trying to stop her. I tried to make my way closer towards her, placing my arm over my nose as gas spread throughout the entire room. But it was of no use, and soon I found my vision blurring as I began choking on the gas. My limbs began to feel numb and slowly but surely, I sank to the ground and lay flat on the floor, begging my body to cooperate. But again, it was of no use.
"My sister, Macy is expecting us, Damon."
And that was the last thing I heard before I lost consciousness.

When I awoke, I found myself tied tightly, with duct tape, to the leather front seat of a car. I began to struggle against it, but realised I was too weak to even try to lift a finger. My bones literally felt like jelly under my flesh.
"Look who's awake! And just in time too. We're about an hour away from all the excitement, can you believe it!" Jade said next to me. Only, I now suspected that Jade was not Jade as her hair had changed from brown to blonde and her eyes had changed to a deep shade of chocolate brown with slight golden flecks here and there.
"Who the hell are you really? And where the hell is my mate?" I asked angrily. I was in no mood for games, especially not this one.
She quickly took her eyes off of the road and the thick forestry which surrounded it and then turned towards me. "Oh, so you noticed the new look. It was all good trying to play Jade, but I've grown tired of the whole charade now that you're weakened with wolfsbane and in my clutches. My name is Nancy, I'm Macy's sister. And as for your mate well… you’ll see soon enough. You’re in for one hell of an event, Damon."
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Surprises surprises and even more surprises are on the way! Now are you ready to be shaken to the core? I have, in my hands a few shocking trick cards to play, all in honour of Lucien, the King of not only seduction, but trickery as well.
Stay safe! Stay healthy! Sending all my love!