Chapter 6

Alpha Jonathan's POV

Ringing.

I hear ringing in my ears before I am fully conscious. As I start to become more aware of myself, I open my eyes and all I see is darkness. I feel like I’m crawling out of tar as I struggle to figure out where I am, and slowly the memories piece themselves together and I see my friend, my beta, ripped apart and everything comes flooding back.

As I regain consciousness I feel something brush across my face and remember the bag they tied around my head before they tossed me into the van. I move my hands up, and they are still tied together, but I can take off the bag that is still there and I look around. I’m surrounded by trees, and there is snow on the ground. I realize how cold I suddenly am and curse those fuckers for leaving me out here naked with anything. No money, no phone, no clothes. I don’t even know where I am. All I know is my hands and feet are tied and I’m as good as dead.

I’m scared.

Judging by the position of the sun, I know that it will be dark soon. If I don’t get to some kind of shelter, I’ll most likely freeze to death. Alpha Eric has pretty much given me a death sentence without doing the job himself. I crawl towards a tree, the snow pressing against my skin, and I start to shiver from the cold. I reach down and try and get the metal rope that is tied around my feet off, but it’s so tight and my fingers are so cold I can’t get it.

That’s when I heard them. Rogues. They can smell fresh meat from anywhere. I see one in the distance, and then another. They approach me and I start screaming, trying desperately to shift, but my wolf is unreachable.

Wolfsbane.

One of them stands in front of me, and I am terrified. It’s huge and when I look into its eyes they are almost lifeless. My father told me that there are two kinds of rogues, some are simply wolves without packs, while others have a sickness, almost like rabies. I know what kind these are. A second and a third come forward and one of them grabs my leg as I try to crawl away, but it’s too late. I scream as they rip into me and I can feel the warm ooze of blood dripping down my body. The last thing I see is a pair of giant wolves that leap from the trees and pull the rogues off of me.

“What’s your name kid, come on, stay with me, what’s your name?” One of them is standing above me and I think he's asking me who I am.

“A-Alpha Jonathan,” I manage to spit out before I pass out and drop into oblivion.

Alpha Roman's POV

He’s awake sir.

I stir in my bed and look at the time. It’s close to four in the morning.

I’ll be right there.

I mind link back to the doctor as I reach around Anna and hold her tight to me. “I have to go. The boy is awake.” I say quietly and she stirs and opens her eyes.

“I’ll come with you.” She gives me a quick kiss and we both get out of bed. Anna has a special gift and is able to feel and consume other's feelings, taking on their emotions and replacing them with a calming effect. There are limits to how much she can absorb, but even if it is just a small help she offers herself up. She is the perfect Luna and Queen for our territories and I don’t even try to get her to stay in bed. I know her duty is to her people, and she will want to see the young Alpha.

The early morning air is frigid and it has started to snow again, with giant flakes coming down heavily. We quickly make our way to the hospital and once inside the nurse takes us directly to Alpha Jonathan’s room. He is sitting up slightly in the bed, with covers pulled up to his neck, and he is shivering. He looks terrified.

“Alpha Jonathan,” Anna approaches him first, gently, and she pulls a chair beside his bed. “My name is Luna Anna and this is my husband Alpha Roman. Do you need anything? Would you like another blanket?”

He nods a quick yes and stares at us, hesitant to make a move. Anna grabs another blanket and gently drapes it over him. “Give me your hand.” She says and he reaches out. She holds it in both of hers and I can see a slight sense of calm come over him and the shivering stops.

“Do you think you can tell us what happened?” She asks and he shakes his head and speaks in a voice that is broken.

“Alpha E-Eric, he wanted control of our lands. He-he kidnapped me, and my Beta tried to rescue me, but -”

Before he can say another word the young boy starts to cry. “He - he killed him sir. He killed James right in front of me, ripped out his spine and - and” He starts crying harder and Anna sits up on the bed and cradles the boy in her arms, rocking him back and forth.

“It’s okay. You’re safe. I’m so sorry.” She holds him for several minutes, until he gets back under control.

“Eric, that fucking monster, he had me dropped up here. I know he thought I was a goner leaving me the way he did. He would have killed me himself, but Luna Aria made him keep me alive.”

“So what we are hearing is true then. Alpha Eric is overtaking everything in the south by any means possible.” I say and the young man yells angrily.

“He is no Alpha and he sure as shit isn’t a King! He isn’t even the rightful heir!” Anna looks at him surprised and I bring a chair over and sit beside her.

“He doesn’t know Luna Aria had a child. She had a son and she was afraid that Eric would murder him, just like he killed Alpha Augusta, so she had one of the covens hide him. He’s out there somewhere, he is the rightful heir.”

“How do you know this?” Anna asks, both of us equally confused.

“She came to the dungeons before they dropped me here. She told me to give you the message. I can't believe you actually found me. No one knows about him. Luna Aria said his name is Leo and she doesn’t know where he was hidden, but he has one electric blue eye and one that is electric green and black hair. She hasn’t seen him since birth. We have to find him. Eric is planning to invade some of the human cities. He wants total control. He plans to take over everything and destroy anyone that gets in his way.”

The young man is clearly getting more distraught, and he starts to cry again. “I gave him control of my pack, I turned my people over to him like a coward. My father would be so ashamed. What will happen to my mother or my sister?”

I go to the other side of the bed and gently take the boy and hold him tight as his body wracks with sobs. “I’m a failure, sir, I let my people down.”

“You are no failure, Jonathan. You did exactly what needed to be done. The message you brought is what will save your people and countless others. Your survival and bravery show what a true Alpha behaves like. You will remain here, in my pack, until we can make this right. You’re safe here Jonathan. I’m going to need you to get strong, I’ll need your help.” I turn the boy back over to Anna and she continues to hold him as he starts to calm down.

“I need to go prepare for the council this afternoon. Can you stay with him until he settles? Let the doctor know that as soon as he is able I’d like to move him into the pack house, on our floor. Put him in the guest quarters beside ours. I’ll let the staff know to prepare the room.”

Anna shakes her head, I know she can feel the sorrow that the young Alpha has.

“Will you be alright?” I ask before I leave and she smiles and assures me that all will be fine. “Okay, I'll see you back at the house for breakfast?”

“I’ll be there.” She says, and I give her a quick kiss before I head out.

Elise's POV

As soon as my alarm rings I spring out of bed. My plan today is to get to the city and see if I can find him. My wolf will not shut up about him, and I just need to know for sure that he is my mate. I get ready quickly and head downstairs to the kitchen and I’m surprised to see my mom and dad already sitting there.

“Where are you off to so early on a Sunday?” My mom asks me, and I quickly fabricate a story about spending the day with Sammi, but I can tell something is up. They both look so serious.

“Everything okay?” I ask, and my dad gets up to get another cup of coffee.

“Everything is fine, just some unpleasant rogue activity overnight. Have fun with Sammi.” He says and kisses me on the top of my head.

I grab my keys and as soon as I get to Sammi’s house she is already waiting for me. As my car pulls in she flings the front door open and approaches me, already shaking her finger at me.

“You are not seriously going through with this?” She asks.

“I absolutely am. I told my parents I’m spending the day here, you’ll cover for me right?”

“Elise, the tunnels aren’t safe. Do you even know how to navigate them?” She asks, and she has a valid point. I’ve never been down there by myself, and the tunnel to the city hasn’t been used in years. They built the tunnels over a hundred years ago, to travel quickly during the war, but there hasn’t been trouble like that since my great-grandfather took his position as the Alpha King of the North. He signed peace treaties with the surrounding territories. Covens, Dens, and the Fay are all peaceful here. The rogue community is still there, but we don’t see them often anymore. Most of the rogues actually come up from the south now.

“I’m going to shift and Lily is going to run there. I have an old map, it looks like a straight shot to the city. Don’t worry. Be excited for me, I’m hopefully going to find my mate!” I say with a flutter in my stomach.

“What if he’s human, Elise? Did you think of that?” She has her arms crossed and is tapping her foot at me, still displeased with what I’m about to do.

“Impossible,” I say, but not fully convinced of it.

“I want you to text me when you get there, and before you leave to come back, and when you get ba..”

“Okay, I know, I’ll text you. I’ll be fine!” I give her a big hug and then make my way to the tunnels. The entrance is hidden deep in a cave and my flashlight does little to light the way, but I find the staircase and cautiously make my way down. I get out my map and I see that the route I need to take should be easy to navigate. I get undressed and stuff everything into a duffle bag and I shift, letting Lily take over. She takes my bag in her mouth and runs as fast as we ever have. The tunnels are barren and filthy, and it’s a good thing I have a map. It is a maze down here. But after an hour of running, we come to the other end, and once I shift back and get dressed I’m relieved that the opening is well hidden in the woods on the edge of the city.

I make my way into town and head straight for the pawn shop. I open the door and my nerves are tight with excitement to see him, but instead, I see that awful man. He looks up at me and shakes his head.

“No returns girlie. You bought that piece of junk fair and square.” He says, and I shake my head and go closer to him.

“No, I’m not here for that. I’m looking for the boy that was here the other day.” I say as nicely as I can, trying to hide my anticipation.

“Leo?” He looks at me and cocks his head to the side. “Hmm, well he isn’t here.”

“Can you tell me where I can find him? I’d like to thank him properly for helping me get the locket.” I say. It’s a weak excuse, but it’s all I got.

“You can probably find him at the coffee shop around the corner. He does his homework there on Sunday mornings.” He answers and doesn’t even look at me.

“Thank you,” I say and I start to walk out. I take another glance back into the shop and I’m startled to see this man standing in the middle of the store. And now that he’s closer to me I notice that his smell is off, different. He doesn’t smell human.

“Don’t give Leo any trouble. His life is shit enough without some girl coming in to make it worse. Got it?” He says, and I find it somewhat endearing that he cares about him.

“I understand. Thanks again.” I say and I leave the store and head around the corner. When I get to the coffee shop I see him through the window and my heart literally flutters.

'He is our mate.'