The Welcome

Chapter 10

The Welcome 

Xander

Regan was late. That wasn't his style.

The pack members were gathering, they weren't complete yet so there was still time.

“Something is wrong” the priestess said. She stood by my side, her eyes on the growing crowd, “my omegas are late. Something is delaying them and it isn't good.”

I would be foolish to ignore my gut feeling and her words.

“I'll send someone…”

“Alpha!!” one of the omegas shouted as she ran into the clearing. The crowd became silent and created a path for her.

The smell of her blood reached me and I jumped off the podium. I reached her just as the priestess came down the podium.

Leila…

“What's wrong?”

She fell on her knees, holding her bloodied side “We were attached…they took the Luna.”

What?! 

Hala growled.

“Where?” The priestess asked, kneeling beside her.

“Not too far from here. They weren't from the pack.”

“Get the healer to treat her” I said to the priestess, “Carlson!” I called.

“Alpha” he replied already by my side with Marc my other general.

“The healer was with us…she's not injured but she was hit on her head. She's still treating the others, her mate is looking over her.”

I growled, who?! Who would dare to trespass into my land?!

“I can heal her, go” the priestess said. 

I nodded and ran off, Carlson and Marc on my heels. The Priestess would handle the crowd in my absence.

I saw them in a small group in the middle of the road. Marenza was stumbling yet she was going from one omega to another. Regan followed her with her tools, his mouth set in a grim frown.

“Alpha” Regan said, he avoided my gaze. I knew he was feeling guilty. Leila was under his watch but I didn't blame him. We weren't fucking prepared for an ambush. I knew we had traitors among us, the defense was impossible to penetrate without inside help.

Now was not the time for that.

I patted Regan's shoulder, he was tensed. I nodded at him and he nodded back.

“Marenza…” I called, she lowered her head “Alpha.”

I sighed and pulled her into a hug. These people were my family.

She hugged me back, her grip tight as she cried, “Xander…”

Leila 

I woke up with a start. The room was dark and my head was fucking pounding. I tried to stand but I was held in place. Squinting, I realized I was chained, my hands and legs were chained to the floor.

‘Lea’ I called

‘Yes…’ she sounded doctile. Guilty that she couldn't protect me. But she couldn't and it wasn't her fault.

‘Do you know if they hurt Marenza?’

‘...they didn't. She's still alive.’

I sighed, ‘thank the goddess.’

‘Leila…’

I heard a loud sound and the door opened. 

“Amelia? Damien?”

“Oh yes…I've been waiting for this moment for a long time.”

Amelia kidnapped me? Why? What does she has to gain? Why is Damien by her side?

“I don't understand, why?”

“Why?” She squat in front of me, “I need you to get out of the fucking picture. I will be the Luna beside Xander, not you or anyone else.”

“Are you serious? I just left a relationship, why would I want to rush into another one?”

I gasped as I registered the pain on my cheeks. Amelia fucking slapped me. Damien just watched, he looked almost bored. I don't understand why he's helping her, why he's doing this.

“Shut the fuck up!!”

“Amelia look…” I ignored my anger, “...let me go. I'm not your competition…”

She slapped me again. I gritted my teeth.

“Do you think I'm a fool?...”

The door opened again and a man walked in. “Amelia stop.”

“But dad…”

Dad? This wasn't Carlson.

“We will discuss this. Excuse us.”

Amelia glared at me before standing with a huff.

“I'll be outside dad.”

I observed the man in front of me as Amelia walked out with Damien trailing behind her. His blonde hair sat in waves on his head and his green eyes were awfully familiar, like mine.

“I'm sorry about her” he apologized when Amelia left and sat on the floor in front of me.

“Who are you? What do you want from me?”

“I'm Antonio. I'm your mom's brother.”

Chills ran down my spine as I looked into his eyes that were the same shade as mine. He wasn't lying.

“I wasn't expecting my introduction to my mom's family to happen like this.”

“I will remove the chains if you promise to stay put.”

I can't run away now. This place was obviously surrounded by his men. I nodded.

Antonio smiled, “Good.” He pulled out a key and kept his promise. I massaged my wrist, my eyes never leaving his.

“What do you want from me?”

“I need your help…” I raised a brow, “...I know I didn't go about it well but there was no way your alpha would have lent you to me.”

“Why would I help you after this?”

“I'm the alpha of Silver Quin Pack, your real pack. The pack of your mother. There's something special inside you, I'm sure you must have felt it once or twice.”

Lea watched him like a predator. Her hostility made me believe he was right. There were times when I would make a total barren land suddenly begin to grow when I was younger but dad had brushed it off, saying it was just time for the plants to grow.

“Your mother and all the women in our family before her also had this power. She died protecting you from people that want to use you for their own gain.”

I ignored the pang of pain in my heart at the thought of my mother.

“I'll protect you and train you to use your powers. In return you'll stay with us for a while, you see, our pack can't survive without your powers.”

“You won't lock me up?”

“I won't. I will also tell you more about your family. Our family.”

I wanted to know so bad…it's like my buried curiosity had been dug out. It doesn't mean I trust him

"I know all these my antics won't go down well my daughter as she is too impatient like her mother ,they want things done quickly not minding the cost."Antonio said in a whisper as I strained my ears to hear him as he stormed away.