“Someone’s here,” Gin warned, at the same time Gray had the same feeling.
His protective instinct towards his Little One soared; balled his fists, preparing for a fight. They were found too soon, but he wouldn’t let her be taken. Not now, not when he was finally reunited with her. She shall never get hurt again.
“I promise I’ll protect you, Little One,” he said, planting a kiss on her forehead before leaving the bedroom to the living room, and finally heading outside. He stood on the porch, flexing his shoulders, channeling Gin’s energy.
He could smell one, an Alpha, the same scent that lingered on his Little One. Did he come alone? Gray doubted it. His men must have the cabin circled by now, hiding their scents with wolfsbane – it’s what he would’ve done.
“Show yourself,&
Gray turned around and saw Astraea standing on the porch; her cheeks flushed, breathing heavy, and shivering. She had wrapped herself with a blanket but she was in no state to be outside, she could barely stand.“Go back inside, Little One. I’ll take care of matters here,” he said, turning his attention back to Caelum, who had a relieved smile on his face, from seeing Astraea.This angered him more that he wanted to kick him in the face but he could still feel her presence. “You don’t want to see what I’m about to do, Little One. I don’t understand why you defend him, but I promise you, he will get what he deserves,” he said through gritted teeth. “So please, go back inside.”“A-Astraea,” Caelum whispered, ignoring the pain coming from his abdomen. She heard him, and she came out
“Her pack is waiting for her return.”Luca’s words pulled on his heartstring, remembering the promise he made to his pack before he left them. It had been years since then, and he had cut all contact from them. They weren’t even his pack anymore. He was no longer Alpha, having passed on the responsibility to his Beta and best friend.He promised to return, and yet he never did. He was a rogue Alpha if he could still call himself one. No one knew about him, and he was certain his pack wouldn’t snitch on him. This kid knew, but did he really? There was a possibility the kid was bluffing.And his Little One, a Luna? She didn’t mention anything about it. All he knew was that someone hurt her and she was running away from the Blood Moon pack.“You dare fool me, Beta?” he spa
Gray paced back and forth on the living room, still in disbelief of what the two had just told him. Luca leaned on the wall beside the window with his arms crossed while Caelum sat on the couch in silence, still recovering from the earlier fist fight.Stopping, he said, “So let me get this straight. You’re telling me she’s the Luna and you weren’t responsible for those… those marks.”“Yes,” Caelum answered.“Why should I believe you,” he scoffed.“Do we have to go over this again?” said Caelum, rubbing his temples.“I still don’t trust you.”“I understand. But whether she returns or not is up to her. Just her,” Caelum said as he stood to face him. “Do we ag
“Thanks for doing this,” Luca said in a mind-link as the pack raced through the woods. He ran beside the Alpha, and together they led the group of warriors behind them.“I gave my word,” Caelum simply replied. “Besides, I trust she won’t run away again.”“Huh, looks like getting beat knocked some sense into you,” said Luca.Caelum growled. “Don’t bring that up again.”“So, what do you know about my mate?” Luca asked, changing the subject, and he tensed. It was only a matter of time before he started asking questions and of all the timing, it had been right when they were on their way to the Silent Moon pack.“She’s betrothed to another but she wouldn’t tell who he is,” Caelum answered honestly.“Is he one of those captured warriors?”
Astraea sat by the riverbank, her legs dipped in the water, swinging back and forth, cutting against the current. Her head rested on Gray’s shoulder, who sat beside her.A couple of omegas watched them from behind, planting more aconite and harvesting its purple flowers for processing.“I remember my Little One used to love playing at the river. Your Mom used to scold you all the time,” said Gray.“I can’t remember what she looks like,” she admitted. “Tell me.”“All you have to do is look in the mirror, Little One. You’re the spitting image of her,” he said. “You and your sister.”“Do you think they’re happy now? Being with the Goddess? I hope Nana’s with them,” she said, raising her head to gaze at the clear blue sk
“That’s all of them,” Caelum said, eyeing the group of freed captives now gathered in front of him.Gammas and healers from both the Blood Moon pack and the Silent Moon pack passed around clothes to the freed warriors, and were comforting them. The healers were tending to the wounded. Some of the warriors were stacking up the bodies of dead rogues. Everyone was working together, as if they’ve known each other for long when they’ve only got acquainted yesterday.Clarissa felt relief wash over her, seeing her people freed from the rogues, all of them although weakened, still alive. “Thank you, Alpha Caelum,” said she, tilting her head to the side to look up at him. “The Silent Moon pack is indebted to you. Should you ever need our help, we would be more than willing to lend a hand.”“The nightmares have stopped,&
“Astraea,” he said, calling her name like a lover, petting her hair as she sat on the floor with her legs folded beneath her thighs, her head bowed, eyes shut tight and lips quivering.“I’m so happy you’re alive. I was devastated when I had to leave you behind that night.” His voice lacked of a joyful tone, and it sent shivers down her spine. He slowly paced beside her, circling her, and though she couldn’t see his face, she could feel his watchful eye on her.The last thing she remembered was following the directions she was given, and arriving at the borders of the pack’s territory, before someone from behind her put her to sleep. Nevertheless, she was familiar with where she was taken. The floor was of wood unlike the usual cold tiles, the room smaller, dimly lit from a lamp that sat atop the bedside table. As usual, al
Caelum sat on his chair, his chin resting on both hands propped up on his elbows. A map was laid out on the table, one particular spot circled in red. After all these years of chasing after him, he had finally found the one place he had been hiding – there was no escape for him now.Gray stood on one side of the table, his arms on each end, leaning forward as his brows knitted in concentration. A man could only have so much, and the man who had caused him everything he ever had was finally getting what he deserved and more. It was time for payback, merciless and bloody.The two Alpha’s aura were getting stronger as Luca discussed the new findings the scouts reported. The hideout was hidden with wolfsbane and was near the south’s borders that it was easily ignored. No sane werewolf would get close to those borders. They should’ve realized that they were dealing