Chapter 5 Laughter

Atticus' POV

It's been 3 months since I lost a member of my pack. I know Jared was only one member, but over the years, the numbers keep dwindling. With each attack, I never know if I'm going to lose another person. 

There were already so few of this little pack, a pack who loved each other so much. I just don't want them to lose anyone else. They have already suffered enough. They watched their entire pack fall. Every building was burnt to the ground, and everything they knew was destroyed in an instant. 

I quickly fell in love with this small pack. I couldn't believe anyone would ever want to hurt them. There wasn't a mean bone in any of them. They're the kindest people I've ever met in my long, hard, and lonely life. 

Each one of them has a talent they're good at. Each one has something they strive to do better at. Each one has hopes, dreams, and a longing for a place they can call home and finally settle down into.

Sometimes I wish I could unleash Draven onto the enemies. He can wipe them out single-handedly. Something I am not capable of doing without him. But if I did unleash Draven, I would be exposing him...

The beacon... It calls to me. At first, it was faint, but as the days passed, it got stronger. I feel it calling to me, tugging on my chest, begging me to find it. What is it? Who is it? Is it a person? Is it something else?

It can't be my mate. It doesn't feel like one. The pull feels different, and it's getting stronger. As we traveled, I could feel I was getting closer to it, until suddenly one day, the strength of the beacon weakened significantly and remained idle. Almost as if it was content with my location and didn't want me to proceed any further. 

It remained like that until a month ago, when suddenly it felt as though it was activated again. This time the strength of it was unlike anything I had felt previously. The first few days, it was hard to focus on anything but the beacon. Once I was used to it and it was no longer the only thing I could think of or feel, we were able to continue towards its direction. My other half and I were eager to find out what this beacon was. More so now than ever. 

"Here you go," Tristan said as he plopped down next to me and shoved a plate in my direction. I glared at Tristan as I took the plate.

"Must you always drop your body against me every time you sit down?"

"Yes, you break the fall." This asshole said, and I groaned as I rolled my eyes.

"I think he's attention-starved and needs physical contact from you," Annabelle said and Ron snorted as he began laughing.

Tristan took in a sharp breath and held his hand over his chest, faking hurt. 

"I'm not attention-starved! But I do need physical contact that only you can provide!' Tristan said as he gave the Alpha a loving look. 

Tristan fell into a fit of laughter as he went flying sideways. The Alpha's small group began laughing as their Alpha looked at Tristan horrified.

****

Third Person's POV

Rose's naked body lies draped over Nick's naked body. Her head rested against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. Her fingers lightly trail along his chest, running through his chest hair as he strings his fingers through her long blonde hair.

"I wish you were my mate. I wish we could have kids. I always thought one day I would have a child and experience carrying one. I used to try to imagine what it would feel like. I would try to picture my stomach round with a pup growing inside."

A tear lands on Nick's chest and he pulls her up higher, tilting her face toward him before gently cupping her cheek.

"I'm sorry, my sweet Rose! I wish that was something I could give you." Nick let out a breath as he let his eyes sweep over her beautiful and delicate face. She's breathtaking! Her skin is so pale and creamy, not a single flaw. Her long blonde hair hangs to the middle of her back, so perfectly straight. Her blue eyes shine every time she looks at him, and her natural red lips look even more amazing after he's thoroughly abused them.

"But maybe one day, when we find a place, maybe we can adopt a little boy or a little girl. Hell, we can adopt both if you want! We can fill the house with the sound of children's laughter. We can give them a home, and parents they don't have. They can fill the missing piece in our hearts, as we fill theirs." 

Rose's lip trembled as more tears rolled down her face.

"I love you so much!" 

"I love you too, my beautiful Rosaline!" 

Nick tried desperately not to let his eyes fill with tears. But seeing the love of his life cry, and wishing they could find a place to call home, caused the Delta 2's eyes to fill with tears before he pressed their lips together, stealing the breath from her lungs in a sweet passionate kiss.

Nick's fingers thread through Rose's hair as he slowly enters her again. Rose breaks the kiss, throwing her head back and exposing her beautiful long slender neck. Nick's fingers trail along her delicate neck and she moans as his fingers caress his claiming mark. His head lifts off the ground before latching onto his mark while drawing his hips back. Her body moves as he thrusts into her again, and he growls at the beautiful little cry that escapes her lips.

....

Once again, the Alpha sits in front of the fire, mesmerized by it, watching the flames flicker and dance. He loves the way they seem to change colors, from light orange, to darker, and then to almost red. 

Atticus used to feel how antsy Draven was. But since there have been no bodies of water near them for quite some time, Draven has lost his spunk. He's almost becoming depressed since he hasn't been able to shift in so long. 

"I'm sorry! I wish we didn't have to rely on water to hide you, but we do. We haven't found water anywhere deep enough to hide you." Atticus tried to explain, knowing all they've come across lately has been very narrow and shallow streams. Only enough for drinking and rinsing off. 

Draven didn't respond, he simply receded to the back of his head, and a deep low whine was heard before he disappeared. Atticus' heart broke and he suddenly stood up, startling Tristan.

Tristan closely observed the Alpha and his suddenly odd behavior. It only took him a moment of trying to figure out what was wrong, before It dawned on Tristan.

"Let's pack up tonight and head out first thing in the morning. The sooner we make it to the river, the sooner he can be free to stretch his limbs." Tristan said to his Alpha through the link.

Tristan and Atticus know the river isn't the closest body of water where Draven can be free to dive down deep. The only problem is, the other bodies of water are very large ponds, and both are in two very large packs. 

If they can make it around the larger pack with two shallow ponds, which are notorious for their cruelty on the weak, they'll be free to cross the river and camp out safely on the other side. 

That river will provide water for drinking and bathing, along with food. It's also wide, and deep enough for Draven.

The only problem is that there are a lot of packs in this area. The only good thing is they are all on one side of the river. 

Atticus lets out a breath as he reaches over and grabs Tristan's arm. He squeezes it before pulling Tristan into his side.

"I know I've thanked you before, but thank you! Thank you for keeping my secret, and thank you for being my friend and brother." Tristan heard his Alpha through the link and his eyes stung. Tristan cleared his throat as he looked away for a moment before wrapping his arm around his Alpha and pulling him into his side.

"Stop making me cry! I love you, man!" Tristan said out loud as he struggled not to cry.

Atticus once again shocked the beta as he chuckled and grabbed the back of his head, pulling it forward and pressing a kiss to the top of his head.

"There, that's as much love as I can give you. Now go somewhere."

The Alpha thought he was free, but his body flew to the side as Tristan threw himself at the Alpha, wrapping his arms around him and tackling Atticus to the ground.

The Alpha's face flushed as the stupid Beta playfully proclaimed his love.

"I knew you loved me! I love you too, Alpha!" Tristan loudly proclaimed.

"For the love of Goddess! Get a hold of yourself!" Atticus tried to yell, but he did a horrible job as he yelled over his laughter.

His people watched with a fond smile, loving as their Alpha laughed for the first time. Watching their Beta try with all his might, and succeed in pulling a full belly laugh from their big bad Alpha, who never laughs.

That night the Alpha fell asleep feeling as though something had changed in himself. Somehow laughing and letting go with his people brought him that much closer to them. He had already felt as though they were family, but somehow they felt even closer now. 

He knew each person, every one of those 28 members so well. They were each like a brother or a sister to him. He didn't just care for them, he loved them!

The night was colder than all the others, and the scent of Ash was stronger as Draven came forward, sleeping with the Alpha, trying to keep the little Omega, and those around him warm throughout the night.

....

It was their longest stretch with the enemies not finding them. It had been at least a month since the last time Atticus had to fight them off while his people ran. Since Jared's death, the Alpha refuses to let his people help him fight the enemy. He's too afraid to lose any more of his men. His pack when he found them just a little over 5 years ago, were just under 50 members, but now they're down to 28. 

Even though his people keep wishing for a birth so their numbers can increase, the Alpha is thankful there hasn't been one. It's hard enough on the Alpha and the pack when they lose a member, the Alpha couldn't imagine how much worse it would be if it was a baby, or a child.

The Alpha knew their long streak with the enemy not finding them wouldn't last forever. That's why he wasn't alarmed when a warrior frantically pressed on the link.

The Alpha quickly pulled himself and River to their feet, his voice booming as he woke his small sleeping pack. 'What the hell is up with these people attacking first thing in the morning?' The Alpha wondered as he barked off his commands.

"Head West and once you wrap around that pack, go South for the river when-" the Alpha stopped talking as patrol from the west linked him, letting the Alpha know the four enemies coming from the north were a distraction and they spotted a larger group coming from the west, blocking his people's path. Now his people have no way of going around the two large packs to get to the river. Their only chance is to cut along the edge of the smaller one of the two, the one to the east.

The Alpha let his eyes roam over his people, he's torn. He wants to run with them, to make sure they make it through the pack safely. But the enemy will just follow them. At least if he stays, he can take them down and this will hopefully allow his people to make it to the other side of the river where they can stay for a while. 

Who knows, maybe having these packs between the enemy, and the river will keep them away. Maybe they'll finally be able to claim a place as home and build a life for themselves.

"The West is blocked. We have to go with plan B. You have to go South. Remember, stay away from the larger pack to the west. The one on the east is the smaller of the two, but it's still large. Stay as close to the border as you can, but not too close. We don't want the pack on the west to spot you. They're probably allies and will recognize you're intruders. Be fast, and quiet, watch each other's backs. I love all of you! I better see you at the river! As soon as I'm done, I'll move as fast as I can to catch up with you. Go!" The Alpha said and watched his pack look at him with tears in their eyes before they turned and ran. 

River grabbed a hold of the Alpha’s shirt as he turned to run toward the enemy and he quickly looked back.

"Come with us, Please!"

"I'm sorry sweetheart, I have to make sure you guys are safe. Run along now. You have to stick with them. I love you, River!" The Alpha said, pressing a kiss to the top of his head before turning and running toward the enemy.