As the day progressed, Thomas and Meave went to see Gideon, eager to see their Alpha and friend. Gideon, curious and somewhat apprehensive, broached the topic of the children's training with Thomas.With a knowing chuckle, Thomas responded, "Yeah, I knew you wouldn't like it... But you know, Alpha and all. I did what he said." His light-hearted acknowledgment of Gideon's predictable concerns made Gideon roll his eyes. "You did exactly what you were supposed to." Gideon's respect and trust for Thomas were evident in his words. "How do you feel?" Meave asked, her concern for him evident."I'm okay. It almost feels like nothing even happened. I don't even understand why I was in the coma that long," he admitted, his recovery still a source of astonishment to both him and the doctors.Jorge and Kane walked in and took their seats, seamlessly integrating themselves into the gathering. With a laugh, Gideon remarked, "All we need now is Hattie. Then my counsel is all here." "I haven't h
Gideon directed Meave, Thomas, and the warriors with a clear sense of urgency. "Focus on searching for Hattie," he instructed, his voice carrying the weight of his concern. He then turned to Kane, assigning him and a few warriors the critical task of guarding the house. "Make sure to never leave it unattended," he emphasized. "Liam, move the kids to the new safe room," Gideon said, knowing the importance of keeping the youngest members of the pack secure."Gideon, I'm going with the search party. I need to do something," Avla asserted, her voice firm with determination."No, Avla. It's too dangerous. I need you here, safe," Gideon countered, the worry evident in his voice. He was torn between his duty to protect the pack and his fear for Avla's safety."But I can't just stay here while Hattie might be out there, in trouble. I need to help find her," Avla insisted, her resolve unshaken by Gideon's concerns. Her stance was clear; she would not be sidelined in a time of crisis.Gideon,
As Tanner stepped back into the main room, the sight that greeted him stirred a mixture of irritation and resolve. The room was alive with activity, maps spread out and discussions underway. This pattern of being left out of crucial planning stages irked him. Though Tanner recognized his role in these absences—having just checked on the kids more out of a need to reassure himself than any immediate necessity—it was a point of contention that Gideon often initiated these sessions without him. He understood the importance of being present, learning, and contributing, especially with the weight of future leadership on his shoulders. If he was ever actually to feel prepared, he needed these moments. The focus of the meeting was the mysterious circumstances surrounding Hattie's disappearance, specifically the area along the border where she seemed to vanish. Gideon was coordinating efforts to canvas the grid areas surrounding the last known point of Hattie's presence. Tanner, driven
After Tanner's departure, Avla turned to Gideon. "What's going on there?" she inquired.The weight of leadership and the day's tensions bearing down on him, Gideon sank into a chair. With a heavy exhale, he massaged his temples, a silent testament to the stress and internal agitation he was wrestling with. The room was thick with the tension left in Tanner's wake, a silent witness to the conflict between two strong-willed Alphas who had no genuine concept of how to give in a little. He eventually broke the silence, the words heavy with resignation. "Just growing pains. Having two Alphas on the same land is always tough. Having two from different bloodlines acting like that isn't true adds another layer. I knew this would happen so I'm not worried at the end of the day. It's just... One thing that I didn't expect was so much pushback. Not from him, you know? " he admitted. It was a delicate dance of power, loyalty, and duty. A balance disrupted by their overlapping roles, shared conce
In Gideon's office, with the door firmly shut behind them, an air of solemnity settled between Gideon and Tanner. Heavy with unspoken thoughts, the silence lingered until Gideon broke it with a weighty sigh. "Listen, son, I'm failing here helping you prepare, and I know it. It isn't often one takes over for as long as you did and then has to step back as abruptly as you did. I'm proud of you for handling it as well as you have. I wish I could say the same for myself. But I'm going to make an effort to do a better job from here on out."Surprised by Gideon's candid admission, Tanner could only nod, his response caught in the moment's uncertainty.Gideon, seeking to bridge the gap, pressed on. "So... How can I do a better job to help you? What can we do better together? I'm all ears.""Well, I'm really not sure," Tanner began, his honesty starting to surface. "I'm sure a lot of the things I'm feeling can simply be chalked up to immaturity, and I'm aware of that."Interrupting, Gideon co
Hours after Kane and Tanner had vanished into the night, Gideon and Thomas set out to uncover their fate. The old mill, a place of grim memories and dark associations, stood silent and desolate under the moonlit sky. Gideon hated going near the place because it reminded him of what he almost lost. He would have burned the place down if it was on his land. However, an unexpected sight awaited them at the front gate: Hattie, the missing piece of their frantic search, slumped against the cold metal, her presence both a relief and a precursor of more troubling news. "It was Yorgan," she gasped, her voice barely a whisper, loaded with exhaustion and pain. "He left me... took Tanner and Kane," she managed to say before collapsing into their arms, her strength finally giving way. They transported Hattie back to the safety of the pack house, where her wounds were tended to. Luckily, Yorgan seemed to have a soft spot for Hattie, because he did not harm her much. As she regained a semblan
As Marcus and Gideon entered the room, Marcus gently took Ashleigh, leaving Gideon alone with Avery, who was still engrossed in the television program, seemingly oblivious to the world around her.Gideon, seeking her full attention, turned off the TV. Immediately, Avery's focus shifted, and her first question cut straight to the heart of the matter: "Where's Tanner?"Following Tanner's advice for open and honest communication with Avery, Gideon prepared himself for a difficult conversation. "Some bad people took Tanner, but we're doing everything possible to get him back. And he's going to be okay," Gideon explained gently. "We need you to be strong for Tanner because he can probably sense if you're really upset, just like he knows when you're hurt."Avery, connecting dots with wisdom beyond her years, asked, "Because he's my mate, right? He could feel it when I cut my knee on that log. He told me he can feel it when I hurt something."Gideon, taken aback by her insight, affirmed her
The tranquility of the night was shattered when Avery, caught in the grip of a nightmare, screamed and inadvertently kicked Gideon right in the face. The sudden commotion awakened everyone, and they rushed to her side, only to find her sitting in bed, wide-eyed and disoriented, unable to comprehend the worried faces surrounding her.In the chaos, Ashleigh's cries added to the moment's urgency. Avla, quick to prioritize, handed Ashleigh to Marcus with instructions to feed her, clearing the space for them to focus on Avery.Once the room had emptied, leaving only Avla, Gideon, and Avery, Gideon gently probed, "What do you remember from just now?""I was so scared... I... I... I saw Yorgan," Avery stammered, the fear still noticeable in her voice.Avla, her concern deepening, pressed for details. "Avery, where was Yorgan? Do you remember?"After a moment of concentration, Avery described a chilling scene. "It was in a blue room with really bright lights. He was standing in front of me, c