Rick's POV 

As Alexis and I stood at the solid oak door of the castle my feelings of dread only intensified. I felt my hand automatically curl into a fist as I reminded myself that I was an ex-soldier. I was more than capable of defending both myself and my girlfriend. I was an Alpha and had yet to encounter a being, supernatural or otherwise, that could best me. 

As I knocked on that wooden door, I prayed to the Goddess that I wasn't about to meet someone  ...