A/N: We want to thank those of you who continue to read and review. We love to hear your feedback and it motivates us to want to continue to post our story. We wrote this story because we love writing and we did it for ourselves, to see if we could write together. The story is now complete with four more chapters left to post and we are happy with the end result. We write what we would want to read and hoped you all would enjoy it as well. With the lack of reviews we wonder if that is the case, is it worth posting anymore?

Chapter 18

Emmett's POV

The minute James and his pack entered the room I was on high alert. I watched as he taunted our new leader trying to get under his skin. I phased when Jacob picked him up and ordered him from the property. The other pack began to attack and I went for the leader while Paul and Jacob fought off his lackeys. James turned to his helpless mate, hearing his cries to be spared and tore his head from his body. I only saw red and returned the favor, breaking the neck of the heartless alpha with a satisfying crack. I was already kicking myself for not protecting someone so vulnerable when I realized that everyone was concerned about where Brady was.

Paul had us spread throughout the mansion and even outside looking for his imprint. He was getting more and more upset as we searched hoping he was hiding and safe. Colin said that Brady was now out of range of his power and he couldn't feel his fear anymore.

I calmly tried to reassure my alpha but, I was seeing red. How could it have happened, right under my nose? Last I saw him, he was sitting with his mate enjoying the party. I'd been too busy stuffing my face and relaxing. I kept the guard stationed around the property but, because the ceremony went off without a hitch, I figured Jacob was out of danger.

When Colin could no longer sense Brady, I knew he wasn't hiding. Someone had taken him, he wouldn't run off away from his alpha and mate. Never would I have imagined someone doing this in a room full of shifters.

"Emmett," Embry yelled. "I've got his scent, it leads off the north end of the property."

"Stay put, I'm on my way," I ran toward my mate with Chris and Leah on my heels. Embry, Colin, and Sam stood at the edge of the forest waiting for us to arrive. "Lead the way," I told my mate and he took off with his nose to the ground.

"They are heading for the river. Paul and I are on our way," Jacob said. I couldn't make out any thoughts in Paul's head. It was full of pure anger and fear, his wolf in complete control.

Jacob was right and Embry said that the trail stopped at the edge of it. "Okay, we need to split up," I told everyone when Jacob, Seth, and Paul caught up with us. "Paul, Embry, Leah, Colin and I will cross and try to pick up the trail on the other side. The rest of you need to make sure they didn't double back swimming down river and then back to this side."

Paul jumped in before I even finished explaining. The current was strong and we all struggled trying to get to the other side. There was no way Brady would have made it in human form alone. Embry didn't rest when he made it to the other side, running back and forth along the shore trying to pick up the scent.

"I want everyone to stick together, don't split up anymore than we have," I shouted. I would not have anyone else in danger. I blamed myself for what happened and I wasn't about to let the situation get any worse. "Jacob, you go back upstream. We'll go further down."

"Emmett," I can feel him. It's really weak but," Colin said after searching for almost an hour. "I can't tell where it's coming from though." Paul was practically exploding out of his skin at that point. I couldn't even talk to him. He wasn't making any sense. We watched Colin as he tried to figure out where it was coming from. Embry tried to find a trail but, wasn't having any luck.

"Shit, Emmett there's something going on back at the house," Jacob's voice broke through. "One of Jared's pack was found on the south end of the property and was alone but, they have a trail from another,"

"Okay, you guys head back there. I think it's a decoy but, I'm not taking any chances," I told him. "We will try to pick up the trail here," We spread out trying to find anything that would help. Colin said it felt one direction only to change his mind when we started moving.

"I think they are still moving," he said. "It never stays in the same place for long."

"Okay, we need to stay here except for Embry. If we keep moving, we won't find where their trail begins," I sent Embry upriver a bit further along with Paul. He seemed to be okay with taking commands from me even if he didn't communicate with me.

"Somethings happening," Colin said moments later. "He's cold and," he paused and then got up moving closer to Embry. I couldn't sense either of the sub's gifts but, they seemed to be feeding off each other. I heard Seth howl from across the river and I turned to watch his pure white body paddling across the river. His alpha was running to catch him, stopping at the edge of the river and ordering him back. Seth whimpered trying to fight his alpha.

"Jake," Leah yelled. "Don't, he can help. We think we've found something, please," Leah pleaded. Seth made it to the shore and looked back at his alpha whimpering. Jacob finally agreed when Sam said they'd found the other pack member they were trailing. Seth immediately made his way over to Embry and Colin and I could sense something in their minds but, I didn't understand what it was. All four subs took off running leaving Paul and I following behind. I wasn't thinking about that fact though, it was the last thing on my mind. Great alphas and dominants knew when to hand over their power to those who knew better how to get the job done.

"They're up in that cave," Embry said. The small cavern was a few hundred yards up a hill. It didn't look natural, almost as if it had been dug out recently with piles of dirt around it. My heart sank as I realized Jared had already planned it out. How did he keep it from all the alphas during the fight?

"Okay, I am going to circle around and try to approach from above it. Paul, I need you to," I received a growl at my thought and he ordered me to bring him with me. I was afraid he wasn't in control enough to not just barge in like a bull in a china shop. "Paul, just let me take a look then you can," Paul ignored me and started to climb the hill. With every ounce of strength I had, I plowed into him sending him into a tree farther down the hill. "Listen to me, Paul!" I yelled in my head. "I'm trying to get him out of there! It's my responsibility, he's there because I wasn't doing my job."

"You're right, Emmett!" was the first thing he'd said during the entire search. "This is your fault! If you would take anything seriously just for one minute, he wouldn't be in danger," what he said was the truth but, it was a stab to the heart nonetheless. I hung my head shamed.

"This isn't the time to point fingers," Seth yelled. "Leah has a better idea."

"It's my gift," she suddenly disappeared and reappeared next to Paul. "I can teleport."

"Whoa!" I said.

"But, I need to see the place where I will be, I can't just move to a spot I've never seen," she explained. "I can get close enough to look inside then transport there," once again I was awed by the power of a submissive. She suddenly disappeared and reappeared next to the cave opening, peering in. We could all see what she was looking at; Brady was wet, shivering, and curled up in a corner with a few scrapes and bruises but seemed okay and four other wolves including Jared.

"Leah, be careful," I said just before she disappeared again. She stood next to Brady and quickly lick his cheek before looking around.

"He's trying to phase. I can feel it," she said.

"NO!" Paul screamed. "Tell him we are coming in to get him," Paul said as he started up the side of the hill. It was Embry who stopped him this time.

"Give us a chance to pull those thugs out of there first. He could get hurt if you go in there guns blazing!" He yelled at his alpha. Leah shook her head at Brady trying to tell him not to do anything. She transported out of the cave when one of the wolves began to turn toward them. She stood next to me instantaneously.

"So, Jared's sub is in there and his gift is speed so, he will catch us if we try to run from them," Seth said. "Jared, his beta, and another dom are the others."

"Jared is feeling smug mostly," Colin said. "The others are worried, especially his sub. I don't think he will try to catch us if he has the chance to run."

"Okay, so we need to get them out of there. If we lead them away, Leah can get in there and help Brady out."

"I'm not running away from them, Emmett," Paul growled. "I'm not running in the opposite direction of my imprint. I can feel him and he can feel me."

"You and Leah need to get hidden, the rest of us will lead them away from here," I said. He and Leah headed off into the forest a few yards away. I howled hoping to pull them from their lair. One head peered out looking in our direction. We immediately took off and soon had two wolves hot on our tails. I made sure I was behind the three submissives keeping them from the attack if they fell behind. I could only hear Seth's side of the conversation he was having with Jared's submissive. He was telling him to keep calm and not to attack, that we would get him out safe.

"Okay, on the count of three, we turn on these guys," I told them. "Embry and I will take huff-n-puff behind me, you two get the other," They all agreed. I counted, slowly positioning myself so that I would separate the two wolves behind me. If we weren't able to take the guy out, I wanted a little time for Seth and Colin to get away. We all turned when I finished my countdown and the wolves almost blew by us. Embry was able to get his jaws around his front leg and bit down twisting it and ripping it from his body. He fell to the ground with a loud yelp. I looked over at Seth and Colin, who had a large gash on his leg but, the beta was down his neck torn wide open. I looked down at the pathetic coward who went along with Jared's sick plan. I lifted my paw and swiped my claws across his neck. I looked back again at the two subs covered in the blood of their first kill. No matter the reason, it was something that I wouldn't wish on anyone. Killing someone stays with you and it is something that will fill your dreams. It was the way of our world though.

I could see Paul growling at Jared who had climbed out enough to see what was happening. Leah transported herself into the cavern and before attacking she looked over at Brady and then, Jared's sub.

"Leah, he's saying he won't stop you," Seth told her. She dove for Jared's back leg. He screeched and we could hear it not only because of our superior hearing but through our link with Paul and Leah. The surprise caught him off guard and Paul took advantage. His large body collided with the cowardly alpha sending him to the ground rolling slightly down the hill. Paul immediately followed him and placed a paw on his chest before he had time to right himself. He opened his mouth and bite into his throat.

"No one touches my mate! Die you bastard! May you rot in hell!"Paul said before tearing out his throat.