Chapter Ten

Divine woke up with a start. His skin was crawling with small waves of fire. He looked around and saw he was in a room with Aliyah beside him. He remembered where he was and calmed down.

Was that just a dream? Why would he dream about being pushed into a ditch at the border of his pack land? 

He got up to get some water but stopped when he heard a little whine from Aliyah.

"I will be back soon my little wolf." He whispered in her ear then exited the room.

An uneasiness rose within him and settled in his chest. Something was not right.

"Oh good, you are awake son! Come, wake your brother up." Pop-pop said startling him. "Why do you look like you have seen a ghost?"

"Sorry, I just did not expect to see you there. The sun is not up yet, it will be hard to wake either of them up."

"Mikhail is awake. Orion.....well, you will see." Pop said.

Indeed he saw the door to Mik open and he looked like he did not have enough sleep. He gave Divine a nod and followed Pop. Divine opened the mindlink with Orion to wake him.

"Orion!"

"Why do you have to be so loud this early?" He scolded.

"Why do you have to be such a thick sleeper?" Divine fired back and Mik laughed.

"You may be my brothers but I will skin both of you alive if you start me." Orion threatened.

"Just follow us to the alpha's upper room."

They all trailed behind the elder alpha  to the throne room. Divine could see the stress lines on his grandfather's face. He hoped he was about to tell them what was bothering him so much for the past weeks.

"Good morning my sons. I know it's been a stressful week but we still have some things to sort out." He said.

"It's alright Pop."

"We can handle it." Orion said seriously.

Alpha Romulus looked at each of them and nodded. "Very well, you all know I never believed Quentin died, I know you do not think so too Divine."

The atmosphere became gloomy as soon as the subject was brought,they all kept quiet as the alpha continued. "We all know he was supposed to be the alpha of this pack after me or his father. But with all the tragedy our family has seen there are so many complications. I can no longer be alpha my sons, I need to rest. So I ask you, try to look for your brother, if he is not found by the next two full moons, Mik and Divine will have to take over as co-alphas, Orion as the Beta...." He said.

"What about Rose-Noire pack?" Orion asked.

"I know part of our family is there but none of you is happy with the current leadership and it will only get worse."

"Pop-pop may be right Vines, the man we call our Uncle will not give up the throne just because you have found your mate." Mik said.

"I know. I thought of that too. But I have a responsibility to my people, my late father,mother, our family. I can't just leave them in that man's hands....."

"I understand that son. Find your brother if it fails, we will try to come up with a compromise. "

""How about the three of us try looking for him and if he is not found, in three moons we prepare to take over." Divine proposed.

"I will take that. Me,Logan and the Delta need to rest."

"How about the Rogues attacking? How are we handling that at the moment?" Divine asked.

"For the meantime we have intensified patrols and training in handling the rogues as we  agreed in the last meeting." Alpha Romulus said.

"Good. We will have to go back and check out what the security status is." Mik said.

"I agree, we also need to get suitable people to fill in for us before we leave." Divine said.

"That is alright with me. I fear some dark forces are against us so this may be a time conscious mission." The elder alpha said pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I request our mates stay here though. Just until we come back. It would put our minds at peace." Divine said.

"Yes I agree. I don't think letting them stay home with Ivan as alpha is safe." Orion said.

"This is your home boys, therefore your mates home too. All of you." Beta Logan said smiling at each of the boys. " While we are on the subject, Orion, have you talked to  Thalia's mother?"

"Not yet, we agreed to take it slow." Orion said looking at his feet. Orion was never the patient type when  it came to relationships, so this was a good sign. Divine concluded that he was going to tackle this mate thing like he does in battles, with calculated steps and tactics to get to his prey.Divine wanted to remind him that there would be a time he will not be able to control himself around his mate. He knew Orion would make sure he does not make his mate feel like a one night stand. On the other hand he was afraid, of what exactly,Divine was not sure.

" Orion I know you are all excited at the moment to have found your mate. You have a second chance."  Beta Logan said

"I'm just wondering why are you holding back? Do you think the moon goddess made a mistake? Do you doubt Thalia?" The alpha asked his eyes trained on Orion like he could see his soul.

"No...it's not that." Orion said almost in a whisper for once he looked scared. "What if I mess up and she is unhappy?"

"You will figure it out together. We are with you."

"Alright. Go settle that and get ready."

"As much such as I would like to stay in with Aliyah and go back there tomorrow, I think today would be better. I have a feeling we need to do this as soon as we can." Divine said looking from his friends to the alpha.

"Very well. Bid farewell to your mates and make your arrangements.  You might want to start with the Red Sun borders then proceed." Alpha Romulus said.

"Be very careful boys. We can't lose you too." Delta Tyron said.

They went their separate ways.

****

"Good Morning Ali." Divine said.

"Good morning D,  you haven't called me that in a while...." 

Divine scratched his head frowning. "I haven't?"

"No...... What's wrong?" Aliyah asked.

"I have to go somewhere for a while....."

"Oh."

"I really don't want to leave you but it is absolutely important." Divine said.

She sat there chewing her lower lip. Divine had an urge to kiss her right there, just one kiss.

"Alright. Then I'm coming with you." Aliyah said breaking him out of his thoughts.

"Ali........"

"No D, I can't be apart from you right now.  I need you. "

"I need you too. And I'm going on a dangerous mission. I have to expect the unexpected. On the other hand I don't want to leave you. Pop-pop is tired. He needs to stop worrying about the pack us and Quentin."

"Quentin?"

"Yes, my brother. Well Mik's older brother. He was supposed to come here and take over alpha duties when he disappeared. Everyone assumed he had died."

"Then I will go home..... I mean your house." She said looking down

"It is our home. But that is in Rosé-Noiré pack and I don't think you will be safe there by yourselves. Ivan is dangerous when he wants something. Please Ali...." He pleaded with her hating how his voice almost broke.

"All three of us you mean, me,Giselle and Thalia?" She asked

"Yes. It will give us comfort knowing  that  you are here ,well protected."

"Alright then. Will you come back soon? We have unfinished business..." She mumbled the last part not making eye contact.

He smiled and lifted up her chin with his thumb and forefinger. "That we do my heart, that we do." He said and captured her lips, kissing her tentatively at first. He depended the kiss when he heard her moan and felt her kiss back.

He really wished he was not going away from his mate after they had just gotten closer. After all they had been through recently so he savoured that moment.

**** 

Divine, Mik and Orion left Rainbow pack at sun down.  They needed to give tasks to the other sentries before departure. That had agreed not to tell Ivan or anyone else of the nature of their mission. They were to be as discreet as possible.

They reached the border post at dusk.

"Alpha, welcome back." The guard at the entrance said. Divine glared at him out of habit then stopped himself.

"How is everything here?" He inquired.

"All is well. No trouble at all sir. "

"Thank you." He said and proceeded to the hall where all sentries gathered for meetings. 

They all bowed when they saw him.  He only nodded to them only to stop himself from punching the smirk that was playing on Orion's face.

"Thank you all. You may resume your duties." The bowed again and left. "Asher, Pietro and Hermes, can I see you briefly in my office."

"I called you here because what I'm about to tell you is a matter of secrecy." He said as soon as they all took seats.

"This means what we are about to tell you is not to be discussed with  anyone who asks about it. Tell them what you may but not the whole truth" Mik added making eye contact with each of the three men. "Are we clear?"

"Yes Sir." They chorused.

"The three of us are going away for a while, we may be back in a week's time so keep things in order." Divine said.

"Where are you going if I may ask?" Pietro asked.

"Our grandfather is not very well, he is very worried about Quentin so we need to find him."

"Your brother?" Asher asked.

"Yes."

"But but.... Forgive me Alpha, I thought he had died."

"That's what everyone thinks but Alpha Romulus thinks otherwise so we should give it a try." Orion said calmly.

"Alright sir. When do you leave?"

"Tonight. But it has to be as quietly as possible." 

"Don't worry alpha, betas. I got this handled." Hermes who had not said anything said in his deep voice.

"Very well."

"Don't worry, if Ivan comes by we will handle him."

"I'm counting on you to." He said firmly.

As the other sentries went to have their evening meal, Hermes snuck Divine, Orion and Mik out through a small path that he had discovered one time. He moved the thorn branches that covered it and the others went through.

"Be careful my lords." He said as soon as they passed. 

"Thank you."

With that they traced back to Divine's house and took the three horses and left towards the  east borders.

"Well brothers, let's get on with it." Orion said loudly.

"So much for being discreet." Mik said disapprovingly.

"Don't be so paranoid, no one can hear us. Right Vines?" He said as loud as before.

"Vines, Vines,.....Divine!"

"What?"

"Why are you spacing out right now?"Orion asked.

" I'm not. I'm trying to be quiet. Did we pack the food properly anyway?"

"Yes, PopPop made sure it was saddled up too."

"Very well."

"By the way,O, how did it go with Thalia and Anna?"

"Really good. She voiced out my concerns even before I did. She said something strange though...."

"Wow, that's new. Never heard you say that." Mik said.

"Exactly! She says I'm looked after by a wonderful spirit."

"Spirit?"

"Yes. I asked her about it she just smiled and said it was my mate's spirit." Orion mumbled.

"As in....."

"Yes. Maybe."

"It could be. But that does not sound like she rejected you or anything."

"Yes. I guess that's good."

"It is."

"Enough of that, let's get thus mission on the road so I an get back to my mate. You know give her a good time, show her the goods I'm packing." Orion said wiggling his eyebrows and laughed loudly after he saw the grimaced looks the other two were giving him.

They were outside the borders of their pack and out here,they were prey to anything....

Divine+Aliyah