Whenever I had first left my father I was terrified quite frankly. I think I ran for over 24 hours before I stopped to even eat anything and only drinking for a minute or two. I held every belief that if my father ever found me again then I'd either A) be dead or B) lose my mind. I knew I wouldn't mentally survive if I were to ever be caught by him. I'd go crazy. And he'd enjoy every minute of it until he'd make me forget about everything that had happened. That I ever left, that I found my mate that I became Luna and that's when he'd turn me over to Alpha Thomas. After months and months of endless torture, I'd lose all hope that anyone was coming for me. And worse, I wouldn't be any wiser to all the great things that had happened. Which is how my father wanted it.
Complete and utter submission.
He's always wanted to control me and I've never let him. That probably agitated him more than anything. Fueling his anger every time he'd beat me. I never let him break me.
I knew he'd attack soon, I knew he'd find me and take me away from my new family. The mistake I made was underestimating how soon he'd attack, how soon he'd find me and steal me from my happiness. From someone who had been through what I had, I didn't think I'd take anything for granted. I was under the impression I'd be too strong for my father to bring any harm to me. So right now as the car is flipping for the third time and I feel as if I'm slowly losing consciousness, I can't help but worry about my mate. He's trying to protect me, his hands desperately reaching for my head. Trying to keep it from hitting anything, too late. But it's the thought that counts. My side strategically hitting the ground with every roll downhill since we were somehow gaining air. Picking up speed as we went. I took Josh for granted, I should have swallowed my pride when I first found him and relished in those few extra days of having him and loving him, him loving me.
I know as soon as this car comes to a halt, I'll be dragged away to my death. If not by Kermit's men by death itself. "MAYA!" Josh's eyes widening as he takes in the last flip of our car. A tree. I'm going to hit it, my head already thrusting towards the broken window. "NO!"
One loud crash vibrates through my ears. Until everything is ringing, hurriedly blinking spots out of my vision to check on Josh. The metallic scent of blood invading my nostrils, a mixture of mine and his. Looking at my mate he's ripping a large shard of glass shakily out of his leg. There's a large chunk in my stomach, it hurts to breathe. My head is throbbing and I'm sure to lose consciousness soon.
Hearing snarling and growling, I'm not sure who is fighting but I'm struggling to catch my breath. "Maya stay with me baby. It'll be okay." Sobs barely heard and registered by me. The one thing I do make out is that my mate is crying… for me.
"I love you." The taste of blood dripping onto my tongue from a few wounds I can feel stinging on my face. My wolf having no idea where to start to begin to heal me, she's exhausted too.
"NO! Don't you do that!" Unbuckling his seatbelt he starts to pull himself out of the window. I inhale deeply, enduring the pain-I just need oxygen.
Gas.
"NO! NO! NO!" If I wasn't dizzy before I am now. The scent is so strong and I'm worried that the car will burst into flames in moments. I see Josh crawling towards my side of the window. The trunk of the tree is blocking my only way out. Hearing grunts and multiple string of curses as he tries to move the car. "COME ON SON OF A BITCH!" More tears.
I'm still hearing snarling and snapping jaws. "Josh." I barely whisper it out.
"NO Maya, I'm getting you out of this car baby girl. Just hold on! Stay awake. Please, I love you. Please stay with me. P-Please don't leave me."
The scent of gasoline getting stronger, making me even dizzier. "RYDER, XAVIER, FARKLE EVERYONE OVER HERE NOW!"
Why am I not healing? Why did I not see this coming? "I love you Josh."
"Baby stay awake. Do not fall asleep on me." He doesn't understand that I'm saying goodbye because I'm going with my father. I just know it. My right leg is pinned, my left arm is sure to be broken and awkwardly placed around me. As soon as the car starts to move I scream out in pain. "STOP!" My chest erratically moving.
"Alpha we have to get… we need…" Crap I can't hardly keep focused now. Another ear piercing shrill shriek breaks out. Crying out in pain, sobbing uncontrollably. The glass in my stomach hurting with every movement. Wait, all the warriors are here and Farkle-I'm not going to get taken away. A new wave of emotion rushes over me. The feeling of relief-my father isn't taking me away.
Josh is cursing uncontrollably when he finally takes in my state. A wave of apologies streaming out of his mouth as if this was his fault. Reaching to him with my right arm – my good arm I cup his cheek. "We have to get her out now Alpha. The smell of gas is getting really strong."
I really wish I would pass out, just to be numb to the pain. If only for a little while, I wish I'd heal. I vaguely make out the sound of the door ripping off its hinges. Everything else after that happens in a total blur. A blur filled with agony, relentless begging for them to stop just for a moment of peace. But that moment never comes. Dare I say this is worse than the tortures my father had put me through? "C-can't b-breathe." I muster out while they are working on unpinning my leg.
And that's when the first flame ignited under the hood. "GET HER THE HELL OUT OF THERE NOW!" At least it isn't dramatic like in the movies where the car explodes instantly. Not having a choice I'm ripped out of the car, my hip and knee making a loud pop in the process. Another yelp of pain, the tears falling freely down my face. Which in turn makes me cry more from the glass in my stomach. A quick decision and I'm ripping it out on my own. That's when I lost my sight. From the pain or the fact I'm losing consciousness I'm not sure. "MAYA!" I can feel spurts of blood escaping my body, it must have punctured something. "Farkle, put pressure on her wound. Don't let up I'm carrying her." Slowly the pain starts to subside, my entire body becoming numb.
And that's when things went completely dark.
I welcome it with wide open arms.
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Josh's Point of View.
That moment when your entire world comes crashing down. Not even that can describe my pain. Running back to the Power Pack with Maya in my arms. Her heart beat becoming slower with every moment that passes. I'm dying along with her. Because if she's gone, I have nothing to live for. Maya is everything to me and without her there's no reason to keep going. If I died, I could see her again when we meet the Moon Goddess. Life is so unfair. Hadn't she been through enough? Forget about me, but doesn't Maya deserve happiness? I could have given her that. NO!
NO!
She isn't dead yet. She's not going to die, I'm not letting her. She's going nowhere, she will stay with me forever. The amount of damage done from the accident, well it's almost too much for her wolf to heal. She won't know where to begin. Farkle runs alongside me still applying pressure to the wound, telling me that Smackle has already called Alpha William they have a doctor waiting for us to arrive. Farkle ordered my warriors to run beside us on the way back. Smackle driving a car behind us, but the only thing I can process is how my mate is dying in my arms. Her entire body coated in blood, red as a rose. The parts of her skin not coated in the crimson nightmare is paling by the second. "PRESS HARDER!" The pack house coming into view.
Alpha William is already waiting with his son beside him. I'm aware I'm crying, Alpha's shouldn't cry but when the one woman you've waited your whole life for-the other half of my soul is dying in my arms and you can't do anything about it what else is there to do? Setting her down on the white rolling bed, that's already staining red from the drops. Doctor shouting orders to the nurses now crowding her, the only word that registers to me is 'surgery'. "Please save my mate." I cry out as they continue to roll her to the back. Already injecting needles into her arms to keep her asleep.
"Alpha Josh, we need your blood. Mates have the same blood type. We need to do a transfusion."
"TAKE IT." Already rolling up my sleeves I continue walking, the nurse barely finishes cleaning my arm before the needle pierces my skin.
"We have minutes." And that's when I break.
"Alpha you need to sit down. With the amount of blood-"
"I NEED MY MATE! THAT'S WHAT I NEED!" Tears flowing down my face, gritting my teeth together to fight back the sob. Her heart beat is slowing as I speak, Jax whimpering heavily in my head saying 'mate's gone, mate's gone. No more life without mate.' Knees collapsing underneath me, I don't hold back the sob anymore. "I n-need her. I j-just found her." If I had looked harder, not been so stubborn and prideful when I first met her. I could have spent more time with her.
Looking to my right, Farkle is consoling a crying Smackle. His jaw clenched and eyes red, he's staying strong for his female. No wolf likes to see their Luna hurt. And that's when I feel like my heart is being ripped out of my chest. Collapsing onto the ground, I scream out. The only thing registering in my mind at this point besides the immense amount of pain I'm in is what Jax is saying as he dies.
'Mate's gone.'
"NOOOOOOO! NO! TAKE ME TO HER! NOW!"
"ALPHA SHE NEEDS YOUR BLOOD!" The other half of my soul is dead, I refuse to believe it. I need to see her. I can't even get up, the physical and emotional pain of losing my soul mate taking over me entirely. The wolves from my pack cry out to the Moon Goddess in a howl, even Smackle. They're on the ground as well, the feeling of losing their Luna hitting them strong. Not near as strong as what I'm feeling, I'd rather die a thousand times in the worst way possible then feel this way.
My mark starts to burn. No.
Not yet.
She's not gone.
Ripping the needle out of my arm, the nurse sprints to the operating room. Cupping my mark from my mate in hopes that will prevent it from fading, I can't deal with it being gone yet. I can't, I need her. I need Maya, I don't just need her I want her. Please Moon Goddess, please! Clutching my chest I try to stand, but to no avail. Farkle runs over and tries to help. Looking him in the eyes he sees a broken wolf, "Kill me Farkle."
"Don't give up hope."
"KILL ME!" Gripping his collar in my fists, my mark burning again. The seconds passing feel like hours. "KILL ME! NOW! DO IT! I c-can't live without h-her."
Shaking his head, he throws me on his back. Even that small movement is painful. Jax is starting to close his eyes. 'Jax please don't leave me.'
'I go with mate.'
'I want to go with mate.' I sob to him.
No reply. 'JAX!'
"Maya." I whimper out and drop my head onto Farkle's shoulder.
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Riley's Point of View.
When Maya and Josh left, leaving Lucas and I in charge I wasn't sure how it would go. Alpha Kermit would never let that happen. He was in control at all times, never away from his pack long enough for anything major to occur, and if something did he'd constantly be on the phone throwing out instructions. But each pack has customs.
The Valencia Pack for example, unless the male has a mate or a female he's interested in they will have their heads shaved. The females will wear red to parties to show they're available for a good time. The Freedom Pack wear nothing, literally they walk around naked 95 percent of the time. This pack, my new pack in my opinion is all about what's best for the pack. The Beta taking control whenever the Alpha can't which makes sense. The Beta knows the pack just as well as the Alpha. Fair judgements, and settling things with fists between wolves and not punishing them blindly.
I was raised to believe this pack was to be feared and not messed with, there was a reason they were the largest and strongest pack. It made sense so I never questioned it. Being here however, I wouldn't begin to understand how this pack could be feared. I've never met nicer wolves and the judgement passed by leadership is fair. I may be biased. If you trespass on our lands, we take you in for questioning if we feel as if you're no threat we drop you off back in no man's land. If you cause problems, depending on the severity-like when they kidnapped the little girl, you die. Just like Maya handled the situation.
Katie has laid low since the day Maya sent her to the pack hospital. Doing the duties of an Omega, lessening the work of other's to humble her. A pack is one strong unit, yes there are leadership wolves but here, no one is better than anyone. We all work cohesively together and without that-we fall apart. Her brother, Kris I believe is his name has been spending time with a girl who is at most 15. Lucas informed me they were mates and I just about died at how adorable they are. Most males wouldn't be so patient, I'm glad Maya basically blackmailed Josh into letting him in the pack.
Sitting on Lucas' lap in the Alpha's office he's finishing up a report of a dispute that was handled so Alpha Josh will know what occurred in his absence. My mate, ever so thorough. "They come back today right?"
Maya hasn't called or mind-linked, but only being gone one night isn't a big deal. Besides I'm sure she's busy. She's not just my best friend anymore but Luna. "Yes princess, they do. I got a call from Smackle a few moments before you came in. They left 10 minutes ago, roughly." Pecking my cheek, his arm firmly wrapped around me I lean into his chest.
The scent of chocolate flowing off of him in waves and I'm utterly lost in it. A heavy knock on the door, almost urgent-immediately I tell them to come in. Not waiting on my mate to answer. My parents come pouring into the room, slamming the door behind them. Tears down their face, "They're attacking. On the way back. We just got a call from Mary. Kermit is attacking the caravan on the way-"
"LUCAS!"
Already having the phone in hand he's calling either Farkle or Josh one. "How long ago?" He demands.
"We just found out seconds before we came in here. Please you have to warn them, Maya she c-can't go b-back there. She can't go through that again." My mother whimpers out before sobbing into my father's chest. A tight lump in my throat as I glance at my mate. Again re-dialing. We're too far out to mind-link. Oh that explains why she hasn't mind-linked me.
"Princess, get Alpha Allen in here. Link him."
Nodding my head, I do as I'm asked. 'Alpha Allen. Please come to the office immediately this is an emergency.'
"Damn it. No one is picking up." Sighing he runs his hands through his hair. I start to whimper out, what if they already attacked? What if she was already taken? No, I can't think that way. "Is this, Mary reliable?"
My father agrees, "She's an omega residing in the Alpha house. She's our little spy, she's never been wrong." That woman has been around for years, she'd inform us when Maya needed medical aid after her mother passed.
Alpha Allen enters the room, the amount of power he's pushing off has me submitting to him already. Angling my neck out to show we mean no harm. "What's wrong?" Demanding tone, which has me shivering in fear.
"We just got a tip off, Kermit is attacking the caravan. I'm taking a group of 40 warriors, we're running to the Power Pack we should arrive there in a few hours. I was informing you of my leave, I'll call you as soon as I have some information."
Muffled words under the male's breath, he's thinking through this plan. "If they're attacking, you'd be going in their blind. Not knowing how many wolves will be there will be your undoing, it could be too late. Have you called Alpha William?"
"No one is answering. Alpha and Luna need aid." My mother and father desperately looking at Alpha Allen, they've lost Maya once they don't want to lose her again. "Riley can keep trying as we're leaving. Should we hear something from them, we can always come back. I have warriors gathering out front as we speak. All due respect Alpha Allen, you're here for guidance but I am going to do this." Leaning down he kisses my lips tenderly, "You keep trying Alpha William someone is bound to pick up. If they do tell them to send out warriors to find them even if it is past their borders and that we are on the way."
"Okay." I muster out.
"If they do not need us, you mind-link me and I'll come back to you."
Leaning down to kiss me again, his lips linger on mine for a few seconds longer. "Come back to me either way."
"Yes Beta Female." I think he loves my title more than I do. Giving Alpha Allen a polite bow before exiting, a large hand stops him. "Yes, Alpha Allen."
A smirk approaches his face, "You're making the right decision." That's all my mate needs, I can feel pride filling me. Hopefully it would never be necessary, but if the opportunity arose – Lucas would be an amazing leader.
'I love you princess.'
'I love you Lucas. Be safe.'
'Always.'
Words meant only for us, taking the phone with me I dial Alpha William's number as I follow him outside. Wanting to watch my male lead a group, to be a leader. He wasn't born into the beta position, but he's definitely earned it. Voicemail.
Again.
Lucas explains the mission and immediately the warriors are itching to shift. Ready to run to go save their Alpha's. "We will be running through no-man's land for a good portion of our run since we'll be cutting through. DO NOT STRAY FROM THE GROUP! We are walking into this as a blind mission, it could be a handful of wolves, or it could be war. I want our trackers towards the front, flanking the head warrior. Be on the lookout for scents whether it be rogue, Crescent Moon or our Alpha's."
Voicemail.
Redial.
"Any questions?"
"Is the information reliable?" I figured this would be a question to ask. This could be a set-up especially since we all know the threat to our Luna.
Immediately he answers with a 'yes'. "It's a reliable source from inside Alpha Kermit's pack house. She's rendered aid to your Luna before and even if it wasn't reliable I'm not going to risk Alpha and Luna. SHIFT!"
As soon as that word escapes his mouth, I see Kris running out from the woods. "BETA LUCAS! I request to join the mission. Luna has done a lot for me and my mate. I want to return the favor." Was he eavesdropping?
He seems to ponder the offer, "Kris I apologize but I won't put an untrained wolf into danger. You'll be staying here."
"Beta Lucas, forgive me for questioning you. But, yes I am new to this pack, however I was a warrior in my previous pack. I will not be a burden, consistently sparring with their Beta, I was able to hold my own."
Glancing at me, as if asking for permission. I press redial and give him a small nod of approval. More protection can't hurt. "You may come. We will not pick up your slack."
"Of course." He mutters and after a quick 'thank you' he shifts.
And that's when I feel it.
That's when I feel the bond of our Luna breaking. Falling to my knees I begin to howl, followed by the entire pack. Everyone is feeling this pain, our Luna that we just found is dead. Tears filling my eyes I glance at Lucas who is on his knees as well, clutching his heart. "NO!" Immediately I get up off the ground and start sprinting towards the forest. "NO! MAYA!" I'm about to shift when my mate's hands stop me from moving. "LET ME GO! MAYA! THEY HAVE HER! THEY KILLED HER! LET ME GO!" My hits against his chest start to slow, the tears only coming out quicker. "Let me go to her Lucas. Please."
Slowly falling to my knees, my hands trailing down his stomach as I drop, still begging for him to turn me loose. All the wolves around us are still howling. Some are whimpering, pups crying-losing a Luna is one of the worst feelings in the world. Some might say stronger than losing an Alpha since she's the mother of the pack, the comforter and guide. For me I didn't just lose a Luna, I didn't just lose my best friend.
"I lost my sister."
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Tissue anyone? Too bad, I used them all writing this chapter.
Let me know what you think guys!