Mina POV - Shame coursed through her at the bitter glare in Roman’s gaze. It wasn’t directed at her, she knew it would never be, yet, she couldn't help but hold its weight on her shoulders. It had been her plan after all, and he was the only one left in the dark. It must look like they had given up. Alastor was kneeling before Castriel, taking a beating without fighting back, and she merely watched. Her skin crawled at the Alpha’s touch, but she couldn’t pull away. She didn’t want to anger him. With Alastor in his clutches, she didn’t know what he would do. Every blow to her mate made her flinch as if she could feel it on her own skin. Blake wasn’t holding back, he couldn’t, Castriel would know. “Again.” The Alpha laughed. Mina jerked, her protest already on her tongue. "They shifted just as you asked.” “This is because they took their time.” Blake’s eyes briefly glossed to her; his features inscrutable. His pause was too short for Castriel to catch before he fisted Alastor
Blake POV - “You’re right, Alpha. My rejection meant nothing.” Blake didn’t know how he managed to keep his voice steady, not when his chest squeezed unbearably tight. As soon as he uttered the rejection, something twanged deep within him. Its snap was a surprise, but his body had already braced itself, like it subconsciously knew the impact was coming. Thankfully, Williamina had fallen to her knees, and the Hayre and Lynn wolf had sounded their own discomfort, stealing the attention. No one was looking at him. If they had, they would’ve seen the twist of his features, the quiver of his hands before he clasped them tight. He managed to pull himself together, to ignore the pain, by the time he spoke again. “It didn’t expect it to effect them all. How interesting.” Castriel mused. His eyes were gleaming as they flickered between the unit suffering from his words. His unit. Or they would’ve been under different circumstances. It didn’t matter now. The moment he found our Williamina
Blake POV - When Roman slumped to the ground, the anger that flared in Blake was unlike anything he had ever felt before. It tore through his body, a sizzling fan of adrenaline bursting through his veins, and infecting every muscle. It took over his composure, twisting it tight until it smashed to pieces. Castriel saw Roman as a tool to bend Williamina to his will. Just like he had used Taylor on him. If it hadn’t been clear before, it shone as bright as the sun on a clear blue day now. He had been used. The whole pack was being used, and he wouldn’t allow Castriel to use the wolves he cared about any longer. Blake rounded on the Alpha.Williamina was crumpled at his side, but he gripped her face, keeping it on her fallen mate. Rage burned Blake's restraint to a crisp and he charged. The shock in Castriel’s eyes was sweet, but it wasn’t enough. The man had imprisoned his sister, kept her from him for a year and used lies to turn his hatred towards Clear Blue. He had done things he w
Mina POV - He was so close. Just a little further.Roman was curled tight in on himself, she couldn’t even see the rise and fall of his breath, but Mina knew he was alive. Their connection still wove between them. The steady thrum of his presence pulsed through his mark, keeping pace with her frantic heart. The warriors standing over him had half an eye on Blake and Castriel, their shouting edging them away from the fallen Lynn. She watched them. Everything within her urged her to be at Roman’s side, but she moved slow, making sure she didn’t draw their attention. When accusation started flying, Mina took her chance. She reached for Roman, her fingertips inches from him when a boot suddenly kicked him away. The force sent him rolling across the grass, a trail of blood following his path. Her mate groaned as he came to a stop meters from her, but he was facing her now. Her eyes flew wide. His hand rested above his heart, coated with blood, the hilt of the blade was buried beside it.
Blake POV - Being the head of the Issacs made Blake the leader of the Blood Mountain warriors, second only to their Alpha. He too was charged with following his leader’s orders, but no more. Castriel was no longer the Alpha, just like his family were no longer the protectors of the pack. The knowledge freed him, fuelling the need to keep his wolves safe and defend them from the tyrant they had lived under for too long. Blake charged.In a crack of bones, his wolf burst from him, meeting Castriel’s wolf head on in a clash of snarls. The power of it shook the ground, but he couldn’t focus on the wolves watching them. Castriel had already bared his claws, slashing them in wild strikes, drawing closer to his flesh with each attempt. As the previous Alpha arched his front leg back to attack again, Blake drove forward, wedging his shoulder into his belly. The wolf veered up and he sunk his teeth deep into the vulnerable flesh, but not deep enough. Castriel shifted to rip himself free, le
Mina POV - Just the brief glance of Alastor’s gaze calmed her. It was a quick check to see she was okay and protected, before his attention moved across the others. It moved to Castriel and Blake next, pausing on the latter’s wounds, before snapping to Roman and his fight. Anger flared on his face, his snarl growing. Many wolves around her took a step back, but she had to stop herself from taking one forward. She was no fighter, and to involve herself in such things would only distract her mates. It was hard to simply watch, but sometimes the hardest act was to do nothing.Mina steeled her nerve, watching and waiting for her help to be needed. Alastor didn’t hesitate once he had a grasp of the situation. He bolted towards the Issac wolf stalking upon Roman and lunged. The wolf didn't stand a chance against the Hayre’s rage. He squealed like a wild beast when Alastor dug into his flesh with tooth and claw. Roman had managed to keep them at bay in his weakened state, but Alastor show
Alastor POV - The pout hadn’t left his lips since leaving Blood Mountain. Mina had barely given them ten minutes to recover from the fight, and get their bearings, before she called him and all the Lynns for a meeting. Alastor knew they had promised to help Blake find his sister, but after hearing she was already off territory, he hadn’t realised they’d act so soon. He was covered in blood, his nose ached from when that bastard busted it for their little performance, and his back was scratched to shit by the little Issacs wolf trying to avenge his family. Still, she was his mate and his Luna and, more importantly, he never went back on his word. It was odd running beside a wolf he had considered an enemy less than a day ago. Blake was the only wolf among their little group of five that kept pace with him. Even when Alastor pushed a little harder to intimidate the Issacs wolf, he kept up with ease. If it wasn’t for the three wolves accompanying them, Alastor would’ve kicked it up
Alastor POV-Alastor cursed and shoved Blake away from him. The bastard had given away their position.As he shifted, a call to arms shouted across the escort. The three men shifted, planting themselves between him and Taylor. However, she wasn’t his target. Ronnie and Callum would secure her.The anger bubbling under his flesh pumped a thick spike of adrenaline through his blood, propelling him forward. In five bounds he was upon the enemy, a snarl on his lips. Blake was a step behind him, his black wolf locked onto the largest of the three men. Alastor didn’t care. He just wanted someone to sink his teeth