I'm sitting in the office, repeatedly going over the message from last night. It makes absolutely no sense to me. I'm hesitant to involve my parents, but maybe Uncle Nathan and Alastair can provide some insights. I reach out through a mind link to see if they can come up to the office and shed some light on this situation. I just want to determine if this is some prank or something more serious.

I didn't participate in the morning training session with the warriors; Abbs and Adam handled it for me. The notes I've been reviewing from the previous battle in the pack mention that everyone perished. Both Dad's and Uncle Nathan's notes confirm the same. While it's possible that someone escaped unnoticed, it's hard to believe, given my father's caution.

I run my hands through my hair and let out a frustrated sigh. A knock at the door grabs my attention.

"You both don't need to knock. You've always known more about this than I do," I tell Uncle Nathan and Alastair.

"Just being polite," Alastair responds as he walks in and takes a seat at the desk. Uncle Nathan does the same.

"What's going on?" Uncle Nathan asks.

"Last night, I received this email," I say, handing my phone over to them.

"Adam traced it, and it originated from a cafe by the Pacific coast. It doesn't have a sender's name, and it looks more like spam than a regular email," I explain, feeling my frustration rise.

"It's addressed to Alpha Elliot. But which one, Tyler or you?" Uncle Nathan wonders aloud.

"I'd say Tyler. Judging by the words used, it seems the sender is trying to reference an old riddle," Alastair chimes in.

"However, we know Julian came from overseas. Is it possible we missed someone else?" Uncle Nathan continues to probe.

My anger flares, and my hands tremble. These questions without answers are getting to me. It's all becoming overwhelming.

"We're not trying to upset you," Alastair quickly reassures me.

"I know," I snap unintentionally, then take a deep breath to steady myself. "I apologize. It's just the situation. I don't want to involve Mom and Dad, especially when they're finally getting some relaxation. They need and deserve all the peace they can get."

"I'll figure this out. As the Alpha now, it's my responsibility. The best course of action is to intensify training and stay vigilant for any new developments," I conclude.

"Every warrior I spoke to after the attack claimed they saw no one escape. It was a chaotic night, but it's always a possibility," Uncle Nathan reflects.

"It would take too long to interview all the warriors who were here that night, not to mention those from our ally packs. I can't see how we could do that efficiently," I say, rubbing my temples.

"I think you're right, Tyler. Focus on increasing training and staying alert. In my long life, I've learned that everything eventually comes to light," Alastair advises, offering me a familiar look.

Alastair was always the one to teach me patience, but it's a lesson I've struggled to learn.

Abbs enters the room. "The new members who want to join will be at the border tomorrow evening."

"That's great. However, given this new email, maybe we should revisit the backgrounds of each of them," I suggest.

Alastair and Uncle Nathan excuse themselves after offering their assistance and expressing their desire to stay informed.

Abbs and I spend the rest of the afternoon meticulously reviewing the backgrounds of every prospective member scheduled to arrive tomorrow evening. I'm wary of those with minimal records, but so far, there are no rogues attempting to join our pack, which is a relief. Rogues tend to raise suspicion and are more difficult to evaluate.

Andrew joins us and focuses on the financial aspects, allocating resources and managing the treasury. I don't envy him, but I'm grateful for his assistance, especially after approving numerous expenditures for the pack the previous day.

Adam enters the room with plates full of food. "You guys missed dinner, so I brought it up for everyone."

"Thanks, bro," I say, offering him a grateful smile. I can see more of Mom's influence in him than in Andrew and me.

I continue to review files while taking bites of food in between. Unfortunately, after reviewing all the files, everyone still appears clean. It feels like a wasted effort, and I toss the last file onto the desk in frustration.

I bring up the training logs on the computer screen and start evaluating each one, determining what areas need more focus and what can be added to each daily routine. Everyone else has long since left the office to turn in for the night. I'm still here, determined to ensure everything is in top shape.

My phone pings, and I immediately open another email. The message reads: "How sweet it is to know we are not far apart, Alpha Elliot." My hands shake in response to yet another cryptic email. I've had enough of these strange messages. Whoever is behind this wants a fight, and I'm more than ready to take them on.