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
Mina POV - The room was a rush of excitement, everyone moving around, getting ready, beaming with joy. Mina watched them all from the nest, pillows carrying her mates’ scents propped all around her. She inhaled it, letting the familiarity wash though her, soothing any lingering nerves for the day ahead. Two new scents mingled with her unit’s. They were fresh and clear like the morning air after a night of rain, but crisp and warm like a dry heat in the middle of summer. They warmed her with a love she didn’t know she could feel, one that was buried deep inside her, unlocked the moment she realised she was pregnant. It had been three days since her daughters were born. Three days to recover and bond. Three days for her love for them to grow so unbearable strong that she didn’t think she could contain it all. Small faces peaked out from yellow blankets, staring up at her with inquisitive eyes like they knew there was something different about that day. For young pups, intelligence
Mina POV - Concern for Blake swamped any grief that Mina had for Sam the moment he died. She raced to her mate, her eyes widening at the gash that carried the length of his body. She had seen him twist away from Sam’s blow, likely knowing he’d be the one targeted out of the three of them, but to see the amount of damage that had still been done made her feel sick. The cut was shallow but carried from his shoulder to his rump, in one straight slice that threatened to be so much worse. If he hadn’t anticipated Sam’s response, if he hadn’t twisted enough, if he hadn’t... A wet nose pressed to her cheek. ‘I’m fine.’ Then he rumbled a chuckle and gently pushed her to make her turn. ‘Though maybe the others need some attention.’ Mina spun on the spot, panic slicing through her, but it eased the moment she saw Roman and Alastor’s pout. She’d expect it from Alastor, but Roman’s bottom lip was firmly popped, eyes averted. They had shifted back into their human forms, leaning on each other
Roman POV - Given the look on Blake’s face, the wound was bad. It hurt like hell, but Roman had held a slim hope that his body was exaggerating the pain. The iron tang of blood and the wet heat coating his shoulder told him otherwise, but it was the worry etched into his mate’s features that convinced him. Not that it mattered. He could’ve lost his entire front leg, or been knocked unconscious, but would still get back on his paws and keep fighting. He did that now, forcing his legs beneath him, letting his unharmed three take the majority of his weight. A searing heat sliced from his shoulder to his front paw when he attempted to put any weight on it. He whined, but Blake was there, giving him a solid form to lean against, helping him to stand. Roman appreciated his lack of arguing, but it would’ve been hypocritical. If the unit had demanded the others to rest every time they were injured, Blake would still be in the packhouse cells and Allie would’ve clocked out after Derren’s hit
Blake POV - The brutality of Sam’s actions made Blake jerk. If how he treated Chloe, his own mate, wasn’t bad enough, he was trying to bond with another wolf just after she lost her own mate. Whether it was an act of desperation or pure cruelty, it was wrong. The anguish contorting Chelsea’s face twisted further as pain ripped through her. A forced marking was unpleasant, but it must’ve felt a lot worse coming from someone she had trusted. Blake knew it did from the way she struggled, the way she screamed. She tried to pull free of Sam’s hold, but his arms locked around her, holding her in place. Even the Diamond Ridge wolves around them, those who had ignored their Luna’s pleas to help Derren, looked uncomfortable. Finally, Sam pulled back, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, matching the red line that slid across the Luna’s throat. “Accept it.” He snarled. “You promised me this, now’s the time to pay up.” Tears were already streaming down Chelsea’s cheeks, cries tur
Chapter 103 – I’ll do it myself Roman POV - The tightness in Allie’s jaw worried him. Derren’s blow had been hard and, if they were right about his ability, the hardest punch Allie had ever received. Roman was certain he had heard a crack, yet his mate was back on his feet again, walking into formation. He wanted to tell him to him to go back to Mini, to protect their Luna, but Taylor was already there, keeping an eye on her, Oliver and a still whimpering Owen. Besides, against a foe they didn’t know much about and already were struggling to face, the full force of their unit would be needed to kill him. With the cuts and bites on his own body, Blake still being weighed down after the poisoning, and Allie’s jaw, Roman wasn’t sure they could muster their full strength, but they had to try. Their packmates were fighting around them, keeping the bulk of the enemy away while they took on the leaders. They couldn’t let them down. They had to try and end this fighting before any more unn
Alastor POV - “Isn’t this sweet? A little family reunion. Two Hayres close to dead, and one soon to be.” Sam’s voice grated on Alastor as his attention flickered between his father and the bastard responsible for this mess. He avoided looking at Owen, his brother’s screams lessening to whimpers as the silver took root in his body. The knife Taylor used wasn’t pure silver like the blade that Owen had stabbed their father with. His brother would be able to bare the pain for a few hours before the poison would kill him. Alastor intended to leave it until the last possible second, so Owen would feel a small amount of the pain he’d caused Mina. “Your mother is going to be utterly heartbroken about the death of you three, and that’s before I let slip about the infidelity.” Sam laughed, the sound cruel and haunting. Alastor was sure he didn't care about the Hayre head cheating on his mate, but there was still some satisfaction to the words that let him know he relished every ounce of ang
Mina POV - Lover? Mina was struck immobile with the urge to recoil and surge a protest all at once. Her brow furrowed as she tried to picture her mother on Oliver’s arm, but she couldn’t do it. Not just because it was Oliver, but because it was anyone. Not once had her mother discussed having a partner, nor had she ever had a date. In all the years she had spent with her mother, Mina hadn’t even seen the woman look twice at another wolf. Not unless they had said something rude and she had to make sure they felt the full wraith of her glare. Surely, Mina would know if her own mother was keeping the company of another wolf under the packhouse roof? Yet, Sam seemed to know, and he had lived there just like her. But what about Oliver’s mate? Alastor’s mother? Did she know he was cheating on her, did she care? Mina was pulled from the questions flooding her mind at Oliver’s wheezes. Before he had cast her out of the pack, she had considered him something of a father figure. Despit
Mina POV - As Sam and Chelsea whipped around to face the oncoming threat, her unit pounced. As one, they charged forward in a blink, hitting the front line of the enemy wolves. They moved so fast, no one reacted before three throats were torn out, the first blood of this battle splattering across the floor. Mina winced. Two of those wolves were Clear Blue, but she hardened against the discomfort, knowing they were choosing to side with Sam. If they hadn’t known the truth her guilt would’ve eaten her alive, but she couldn’t feel bad with her unit protecting themselves. These wolves would kill them if given the chance and she knew her mates would give them the same consideration. However, they were trained wolves and wouldn’t go down easily. Alastor, Roman and Blake only took out one wolf each before the others reacted. They pulled around the closest member of her unit and battle ensued. The clash of warriors was a grating sound, the stench of blood slicing through the air immediat
Blake POV - Though a heavy weight riddled his body, Blake stood tall behind Willi. His canines were bared and he stared out at the mixture of Clear Blue and Diamond Ridge wolves that came to do Chelsea and Sam’s bidding. Though their presence was a threat, he was more concerned about Willi. She was still standing strong, challenging the enemy, but he could feel her through their bond. A deep, welling ache was growing beneath her composure as she faced the betrayal of her brother. Blake hadn’t known her when she had been close to Sam, but he knew how it felt to be discarded and used by family. He hadn’t even liked his, yet their betrayal cut deep. He couldn’t imagine the pain she was forcing herself not to feel in that moment. “So, you want to cut me off? You’re doing all this, so I won’t rely on you?” Willi called out. “Rely on me? You did more than that. I was your support for everything and what did I get for it? A whiny sister who didn’t know how good she had it and no credit