Prologue

Devika’s POV

“Brent, please, you can’t go now. This is not the right time, just see they already have killed so many of our members. We cannot risk the rest of them, if you go there now they would kill you. You already are so badly injured, you won’t be able to stand against him if again his men attack you from behind. Please, please listen to me.” I wept while holding him in my arms using all the left strength in me while he continued wiggling, attempting to break through my arms and get himself killed by attacking that motherfucker again.

Due to already being injured badly, he has almost lost all of his strength. “I am the Alpha, Devi. How can I run away leaving my pack like that in the hands of him? You very well know how cruel he is, he won’t let any of our members live peacefully. He and his members would treat our members worse than we treated our prisoners.” The thought of it was just enough for a growl to escape our throats.

Even I don’t want to leave the rest of the pack members in his hands but if we would not escape now then we won’t be able to save them ever. At least by leaving now, we can come back we some help but if he gets killed then all of our hopes will drain away.  Our pack members then forever might have to bear his torture. “Alpha, please listen to Luna. She is saying absolutely right. You are only our hope, without you, we will lose our members, Alpha. Please…”

“Joshua, how can you even say that? Your son and his mate are also still there, what if till the time we come back they kill them or someone else?” Hearing Brent even I felt guilty with the thought of being selfish and wanting to save my mate while others were facing Joseph and his cruelty. I don’t even doubt Brent’s words, Joseph is really capable of doing it, and therefore, even after me requesting so much he went against it and broke my grip on him.

“BRENT, NO, please.” I cried seeing him standing against the tree while groaning as the blood oozes out of his wounds. “I don’t understand why are you not healing?” I said while looking at the blood dripping down his skin, making my heart ache.

Breathing heavily, he shook his head and chuckled, “That is because Harlow is weak right now.” Groaning and struggling he manages to stand straight, “Love, you are going to leave here right now with the kids and women.”

I frowned staring at him, “What are trying to say? How did you even expect me to leave you here to go and get yourself between them?” I almost yelled at him while trying to keep my composure as Willow continuously was trying to take over control. And, if this continues I would definitely lose to her as exhaustion started taking over me. “Brent, just listen to me. Getting some help we shall come back, please, for now, let’s go.”

Being the stubborn him he does not gets ready to hear me, “They must be waiting for me, I cannot leave them under the bare claws of Joseph. He would take his anger out on them because of not being able to accomplish his target.”

“I am his target, he attacked us and wanted to kill you just for claiming me. Then, the one who should be going back is me, not you.” I said standing up and looking straight into his eyes as while seemed pissed upon hearing my words. “What? Not seemed great to hear?” I questioned actually feeling good as the realization dawned on me. “I am also their Luna, it is my responsibility too, to keep them safe. You are the one who should leave with others, not me.”

Taking a step forward and closing the distance between us, he grabbed my shoulders, “You are not going anywhere near that motherfucker. Got it? It’s me who is going to go back and it is you who will be going away from here.” The look in his eyes spoke of the emotions going on inside us, the fear of losing each other, along with the craving to fulfill our responsibilities. And, before was I able to stop him from doing what he was going to, “It is not your mate now, Devi but your Alpha. You are going away from here with everyone.”

Shaking my head, I took a step away from him while feeling betrayed. Using his Alpha power, he thought he could stop me but he still didn’t realize that mate bond is stronger than his Alpha power. And, even his alpha tone cannot stop me from going with my decision. “I’m sorry, Alpha but it is about my mate and my pack members whom I am obliged to and you are asking me to leave them to die. I cannot do that, I cannot accept your order.”

Though I stated him as Alpha to show him the coldness in reflection of his action, my eyes did not cooperate. Instead, tears collected in them as I understood already that he was not going back off his decision and just that was enough to break me. “Marcus, you are going with your Luna. Take her away from here, anywhere but away. Do you get it?” His eyes were still glued upon me as he said those words to his beta making my heart sink.

“I SAID I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE, LEAVING YOU IN SUCH A SITUATION. There are only two options, Brent. Either we are going back together or leaving together. No middle option.” He sighed without even giving me chance to think of his next action, he looked behind me at Marcus. “Brent, no. Please, I cannot live without you. What will I do, please?” struggling and crying as Marcus tries to pull me with him, I said. “Brent, no please.” I cried as Willow tried to take over me and get rid of Marcus’s grip but she already was weak enough to manage even to maintain herself from losing consciousness.

“Devi, don’t be stubborn.” Clenching my jaw I glared at him.

“How can you be so selfish, Brent? Do you even realize how I will suffer if something happens to you?” Holding my tears back, I questioned.

“Devi, trust me. I am feeling worst for leaving you like this but it is not only you, we have to think about.” He said as his gaze moves down settling on my belly. “There, our love is growing in there. You won’t be alone, you will have the most precious one to live with. How can I then let you come with me knowing about our baby?” My eyes widened realizing what he meant. In this whole situation, I actually forgot about this small life growing inside me and the realization just broke my heart with the thought of our baby not being able to even have a glimpse of Brent.

Crying hard, I fell to my knees and begged him, “Brent, no please come back. You cannot let it grow without a father please.” I know as a Luna, I was not supposed to be that selfish but as a mother of my unborn pup, I... And, would it not have been better if we can come back with help and save the rest of our pack members than going there and dying? “Do you think if you would run back to save others will be of any help while living in guilt?”

He shook his head and snorted, “Everything will come back to its place no matter how much time it takes but thinking about the future I cannot run away without saving my members who are my responsibility.”  This man never listened to me when it came to our pack. Is it not better to think, plan and then act? It just is a matter of time though I know waiting might cause harm but at least less harm than caused by acting in a rush or aggression.

“Waiting for help will only make me lose my people.”

“But please,” I tried again to make him agree to me but he had already made up his mind.

“I love you, Devi. And, tell our baby that his or her dad loves them with his whole heart. He is sorry that he might not be able to see them and hold.” Making my heart ache he said, and I know how much he must have held in while saying such precious words in such a way and not directly saying it to our baby.

Sniffing and rubbing my nose, I tried to go back to him but Marcus’ grip stopped me. “You can just say them directly to our baby. There is no need for me to deliver them. Please, come on, let’s go from here.” I cried feeling hopeless as I already knew that there was no use for it because my mate is a great alpha who would never leave his members behind just to save his life no matter if it means his death.

He chuckled, “I love you both, please take care of our baby and remember to always be happy. To give yourself and life a chance,” I was about to shake my head and snap at him for even daring to ask me such a thing but, “for me, you will have to. Especially for our pup, he deserves the whole world. You need to run away for his safety, he needs to see the world where his parents created him with love.”

How can he even say such words in such a situation making my heart cry and letting me already know how life would be without him beside me?  “Go, run away and save our pup, his mother, and his family.” He said looking at me and the pack members who managed to get away from the eyes and attack of Joseph and his men.

Biting my lower lip, I tilted my head as I tried to smile and at least give him a reason to fight back to save our pack and come back to us safely. “We will wait for you, come back soon.” His decision won’t change I got it already and I did not want to force him further, therefore, I let him do what he finds happiness and satisfaction in which is, doing his alpha duty. For an Alpha, his pack comes first before anything or anyone, and being a Luna I cannot keep him away from fulfilling a responsibility that he’s been chosen for. “I love you.”

With a smile on his face, he stood straight on his spot before turning around, “Just remember, you need to run, run and run. I love you.” Seeing his back disappearing far away from my view something broke inside me out of fear. The fear included a lot of things that were unknown to me, just the feeling continued like an unsettled matter inside me. Except for waiting and taking careful steps nothing was left for me to look forward to.