Ashton POV
I was picked up off the ground and put into one of the SUV’s that Austin had driven here. Sitting in the passenger seat I can hear Austin taking charge of the situation, but I’m not too sure what is really being said. I can’t believe that, once again, I failed her. I feel someone shaking me.
“ASH!”
I look over and Austin is sitting in the driver’s seat yelling in my face.
“Huh?”
He starts driving as he talks.
“I have Delaney, Oston, and Brad chasing down the truck. There are four teams, of four, taking as many routes to Vulcan as possible. One is taking the fastest route, while
Austin POVGetting back to the packhouse I realize that the pack has gone into panic mode. I don’t mean in the sense that people are running around screaming, I mean in the running around trying to get supplies put together, packing vehicles, saying good bye to loved ones, some of our elders have pulled all the books they can out of our library to see what we have on the packs near Vulcan, or any other information that might be needed.I rush up to my office, knowing that the only thing I can do right now is map the fastest way to get there and create a battle plan, when the phone rings. On its fourth or fifth ring I figure that Ash is not going to answer so I do. “Hello?” “May I speak to Alpha Ashton Lupin please.”&nbs
Ashton POV A call from the library and he basically shooed me away! I cannot believe him right now. “Ash, look, I need you to lis-“ “Listen? You need me to LISTEN? ABOUT HOW YOU WERE TALKING TO THE LIBRARY AND CUT ME OUT?” “Yes and no, I need you to sit and actually listen.” “Why should I? Are you part of it? Are you one of the traitors?” “WHAT? NO! HOW FACKING DARE YOU!”I know he wasn’t, he could never, he has been by my side since I could remember, I just don’t understand how he could do this to me! “Look, I got the information, and part of why I didn’t want you in here for the call is because I knew how you would react, and we don’t have the luxury of you flipping shat on the person who called. Do you want to hear what they told me?” I let out a low growl. “Of course, I do.” “Then I need you to sit, I need you to stay calm, and I need you to stay
Alaina POVSweet baby Goddess OW! Waking up from whatever happened in that truck I am in pain and winded as if thrown onto a hard floor. I can hear what’s going on around me but I can’t move, I can’t open my eyes, and I can barely breathe. There’s a pain in my stomach, it feels like I am being ripped apart from the inside out. What the h3ll is going on? ‘It’s the mate bond, Ash was with someone else’ ‘He wouldn’t. Two years we put him through h3ll and he never.’The searing pain gets worse, then as quickly as it started it left. I cannot believe I put Ash through all that for two years! The few minutes that I just dealt with was more than enough to make me want to end it all, and he jus
Alex’s POVI can’t believe I found her! Linos has not been able to settle since we lost track of her. I doubt she will remember us though; it’s been too long. I failed her mother I hope that I will be able to redeem myself with Alaina, I just need to be able to coax her out and explain that I literally cannot hurt her, even if I wanted to. *Luna Alaina* *Luna, come out!* *We are here to take you home* “Look Alex, either she’s not here or she’s not coming out.”&nb
Callum POV “Oh, Callum, ‘ol buddy, ‘ol pal. Time to wake up.”I hear, as I try to open my groggy eyes, but I don’t get a chance to even make a sound when freezing cold water is splashed on me. Water that promptly starts burning, wolfsbane infused water, awesome seems like this is going to be the time of my life. My arms have been bound behind my back, as have my legs, and I am laying on my stomach. “You hog tied me? What the h3ll?” “Couldn’t have you trying anything, plus it was easier to carry you like a pig on a spit.”The
Alaina POVIt took a bit for the story Alex was telling to really register, but after we talked some more things clicked. Memories I had of Fin, weren’t really of Fin, and the memories of Fin essentially @bu$ing me being gone Alex was actually able to explain. After Alex and Osain were banished, I would ask for Osain, Alex had heard Liam tell me that there never was an Osain, that it was Fin all along. My father, the man who was supposed to love me, he had me believing that a boy who, for all intents and purposes, hated me actually loved me? How could a father do something like that to their child? “We can’t go back Alaina, that would be su*c*de!” “I have to go get Callum and Austin!”&
Ashton POVRunning, all I have done is run. I know that an entire day has passed since I escaped, but I have no clue where I am. Ok, I have some clue, I know that I am still hours away from home, and I still cannot feel Jan, never mind talk to him or shift. Last night was so cold, I managed to find some clothes hanging on a line and managed to grab pants, shirt, and a sweater, but seeing as we are getting into the late fall it is cold as fack at night. I wouldn’t be surprised if it starts to snow in the next few days. Begin in human form not only means that I am cold, all the time but especially at night, but it also means I am so much slower, it’s given me a lot of time to think at least.I need to mark Alaina, that was agreed upon by me and Jan, I need to talk to Doc Song, to see what’s going on with Jan. I can’t believe that he is gone, it wouldn’t make sense with the prophecy. It talks about the High King and High Queen, in order for m
Alaina POVOsain has run ahead to try and find a vehicle that we can… borrow. I fully INTEND to bring it back, whether or not that happens I don’t know, but we have no choice but use a vehicle. There is no way we could walk far, Callum is being helped by Zach, and Mandy, and Alex and I are basically carrying Austin.Having been hog tied for goddess knows how long did a number on Cal’s legs, and he needs help supporting his weight right now, especially without being able to feel Theo. He doesn’t have the ability to heal quickly, so he will need help for a while. Austin though, I don’t know what’s going on with Austin. We haven’t been able to wake him.I’m brought out of my thoughts by a pickup pulling up alongside us and honking. “Looks like we are on pack land. We need to go like yesterday!”We shov
Ash POV “I’m not sure that the use of the cameras, in the direction of where the actual tribe lives, is a good idea, what can we do to prevent that?” I ask Dan as the phone rings. “Hello?” “Ash, ‘ol buddy, ‘ol pal.” “Uhhh… yes?” “Shane, from Winslow pack in Dundurn.” “Oh, hey! I didn’t recognize your voice!” “I need to know when everyone is being sent to Tsuut'ina pack so I can get some produce and meat shipped over.” “OH!!! I still need to talk to the tribal chief, but I am working with my head of security to come up with a system that wont be overly invasive, and will be easily removed, before I call her.” “Ok, give me a call when you’ve figured that out and we will get a couple truck sent out there.” “Thanks Shane!” I barely hang up the phone before it rings again. “Hello?” “Ashton, I have been waiting f
Ash POV “Well, I guess we have some work to get done.” Scott nods at me. I can see the repugnance on his face. I’m not sure if it’s with himself, me, or the situation in general, but I have a feeling our friendship will never be the same. My relationship with all of the Alphas will have changed by the end of this. I don’t know if we should take up the kingship after dad steps down. I don’t know if I should be an Alpha anymore. “I know what’s going through your head Ash,” Scott says as he places his hand on my shoulder. “We are still good. This is not your fault; you’ve just been dealt a REALLY shit.ty hand!” I nod, not fully believing him. I mean, yeah, the entire situation is completely, and totally, fu.cked up. It’s been reiterated, I don’t know how many times now but, no one could have predicted this. Even if everyone took the ‘bedtime story’ of Selene’s reincarnation as truth… no one could have thought that there would be someone this
Ash POV Within 25 hours of my call with dad we are all on Skype with the various Alphas, and royal families. There are a handful that had to do a phone call, due to fight issues, or their location not allowing them to get places fast enough, but the bulk of them have made it to this call. The Canadians have all amassed at Blue River, St. Bruno, as that was the best place for flights, with the exception of Scott and I, since that as.shole Kushim is currently in our vicinity and actively attacking. Scott did make his way down to my office, to try to eliminate the number of open windows in the chat as much as possible, but we both know he may need to leave in a rush. The pictures are small, but it will work. I notice that as each location speaks their picture lights up with a little ring around it. Well, that makes things a lot easier! “I have called you all to this meeting to talk about the rogue problem and the prophecy of a mad man.” I watch a closely and everyone see
Ash POV I make a slow walk back to the pack house, with Clara draped in my arms, holding her tight. By the time I get back to town she has no colour left in her face, as hard as I try to keep her head to my chest it flops around as I walkAs I pass by pack members I can hear the gasps, see them cover their mouths in shock, and hear the murmurs about what could have happened. The tears fall down my face, and I don’t even try to hide them. The time of being ‘the big tough Alpha’ is over. I can’t pretend like it didn’t happen, I can’t pretend like these things no longer affect me, the truth… the truth is that this is breaking me. It started out slowly, and I don’t even know when it got to this point, but, if I am being honest with myself, I am becoming a broken man. I will always do everything I can to protect Alaina, I will do everything I can to protect my pack… all of the packs… but I don’t know how much longer I can keep it together enough to do it effectively. I have made so many mi
Ash POV Scott agreed to help call some of the Alphas, Cal and Alex have split a bunch amongst themselves and I got Yu and… Kendrick. I sit at my desk, head in my hands, wondering just how I am going to do this. After Alaina took Kendrick down at the Alpha meeting a few years ago I’m not sure he will be willing to help, at least not if its to help her, and Yu… I never did get a read on how he took Alaina yelling at him. I DO know that if they are in the same room together she will likely want to beat the ever-loving sh.it out of him. Fu.ck, having a strong minded, out spoken, and full of… having Alaina as a mate is definitely challenging at the moment! Not many Alphas appreciate Lunas being like Alaina. They want a quiet, subservient, Luna that has no real mind of her own. Alaina caused a lot of waves in Spain and I don’t think anyone has forgotten. ‘That being said… they do still want to be on the royal families good side!’ ‘Good point… I don’t know if t
Ash POV Walking back into my office Alex, and Austin, are waiting, looking at a map sprawled out across my desk. “What’s going on?” Alex looks up at me, then back to the map, before pointing to the eastern border. “They came in from the East this time. Our patrols were able to get to them before they really got into the territory, but we weren’t expecting it.” “What’s with the one that was caught?” Alex gives a little chuckle, turning and, half sitting on my desk. “Yeah… ‘caught’” He air quotes, chortling a little harder, with Cal and Austin quickly joining him. I raise an eyebrow and look at each of them waiting for someone to explain. “She never shifted, the second she saw our warriors she kneeled, hands on top of her head, and didn’t move, or say anything, until after the fight was over. Whe-” “How was she not brought into the fight?” “She stayed back, a good thirty feet, whi
Ash POV I hold Alaina as she sleeps, and my mind wanders to her reaction to all of this. 'I don’t get it, why would she think we would be mad at her?' I can hear his pain, the same pain that I am feeling. 'I have no answer, man, no answer at all.' The door opens and the doctor sneaks in, giving me a slight nod before grabbing Alaina’s chart from the wall. He nods his head to the hallway, wanting to talk to me, but when I look at Alaina, seeing how peaceful she finally looks, I shake my head. He peers over my body to see her curled around me and nods in understanding. “I’m glad to see she’s finally sleeping, without medication.” I nod, in agreement, as he checks her vitals. “I have a question.” I say, trying to keep my chest from vibrating against her head. He nods, and places her chart back on the wall, before coming next to the bed. “She is beating herself up about losing the pups. Fuck she thought I would
***TW Pregnancy loss and thoughts of self-harm. This one was hard for me to write, as I have had a miscarriage. That being said… Alaina’s side needs to be told. While everyone’s thoughts, and experiences, are different, in tumultuous times, I pulled on parts of my own thoughts, and experiences, for this.*** Alaina POV “I’m sorry Luna, we are limited on options…” “We need to make a decision…” “We don’t have much time…” “Do you want us to call Alpha lupin?...” “Luna?...” “Doctor she’s not responding…” There’s a light flashed in my eyes, I can feel hands on my shoulders, laying me down, pretty sure there’s an IV being placed. “Alaina, I’m so sorry, I called Ash and he’s on his way here.” I look up at him, and I can see the pity written across his face. “I understand how you feel Al-“ Bul.lshit he understands! I haven’t heard from Ty since the doctor gave us the news. That being said, I don’t know what either one of us would say to the other.
As the stapler flies apart my phone starts ringing again and Dan quickly glances at the number on the screen then tosses it to me. Looking I see the number for Wild Rose flit across the screen. “Scott?” “I’m sorry Ash, I need you to get out here like yesterday.” I start running out the door towards the garage. “What happened?” “Alaina had an ultrasound…” His pause stops my heart, and my feet. “SCOTT!” “I’m sorry Ash… it’s the pups.” I start running full tilt. “I don’t know much just that there is an issue and she might loose one… some… I don’t know.” “I’m going to run.” I say as I toss my phone and shift mid step. 'We never should have left her there! She should have been with us!' 'Arguing about it now isn’t going to change anything, but we both know that, with what we knew it was the safest place.' 'And now?'