Ch. 461..470

Chapter 0461

"Alright, the plans for moving all the non-warriors are set and ready to go." Wyatt informs me from the desk in the office at the school.

Just to piss off Kevin, he and Nathaniel have taken to joining us here and working, taking up more than just our office space. Every time he sees either of them he goes on and on about non-involved people having too much access to the pack and the school and being allowed to make decisions when they won't even be here long enough to deal with those decisions.

It just made me laugh. He's a walking hypocrite and Wyatt makes a point of informing any one in our vicinity that we are fixing problems that should have been handled by people who live and work here dealing with things.

We are still working through the basic security systems in the school. That did take longer than expected. Kevin fought us on having cameras in locations like the office and the teachers lounge, a place I found out is where many teachers have claimed they've been threatened, but there was never any proof.

Wyatt, Lil and I have been following instructions from Jena and Nathaniel on installing the new cameras, while they are busy in the office setting up the feeds. That also seems to be taking longer than it should for those two. But, I keep those thoughts to myself, I don't know anything about computers and programming and I have been spoiled with how fast they usually work on missions.

About two weeks into setting up all the school cameras, Nathaniel started sending Wyatt and I out to areas surrounding the school with cameras and other equipment. No explanations, just instructions for very specific installation. Neither of us question what we are doing out loud. There are so many things going on right now, He may have additional assignments that we aren't privy to. I trust my team and their motivations and that's all I have to work with.

I did mention the excess cameras to Jena, just to see if she was aware of what Nathaniel was up to.

"There are too many things that don't add up and so far everything leads or points to Kevin Cunningham. I don't have any concrete information, but that doesn't mean it's not there."

Jena is determined to figure out how Kaley's minions were able to grab me so often and not once get caught on camera. She also wants to know how Kevin seems to be so well informed about things that he shouldn't have any knowledge. She has combed through everything and now has Nathaniel double checking her work. I told them we have better things to focus on and they appear to have stopped, but I really think they just do it when I'm not looking, and I can't say that I'm mad about it.

It has been too cold to practice magic outside so Oliver and I have been improvising. But he did force all the other guys to sit through my manipulation of the other elements after they all saw and heard our retelling of the dirt incident and then laughed at him for not being able to fight off something as simple as flying dust.

We played with water at the indoor pool at the school. I was able to raise almost half the water in the pool, but when I went to move it, as one big mass, I ended up catching all of the guys in it and almost drowning them. I had to drop the water in the pool causing a massive wave to release them. At the time it was really scary, but the way that Jena and Lil tell it, it's hilarious because somehow standing behind me kept them safe from the torrent.

 

Chapter 0462

A regular retelling, complete with arm movements, sound effects and puffed out cheeks they would run around the bonfire describing each of the guys faces. That is one thing we do every weekend, no matter the weather or our schedules, we sit at the bonfire and exchange stories from the week and share a drink.

Oliver and I were able to find a type of protection spell in the grimoire to put a small umbrella over the bonfire clearing when it would snow. It has allowed us to get out and just hang out as a group, a really large group with my team here, but still as a group of kids, no jobs, no responsibilities, no one asking us for anything, just to sit and be.

Oliver is actually really good at helping me decipher the seeming rambling of all the different writings in the book. He's been almost as invested as I am getting through all of the things that Elena assigned me. He is the reason I have been training the elements in the order that I have been. He seems to understand the magic and how it works and he hasn't been wrong yet.

Fire was the most intense. I was genuinely scared of hurting someone after the earth and water shenanigans, but Lil actually came up with a great idea and had me light several candles and focus on moving the flames from one candle to the next. Although, I knew her faith in my ability was small since we also did this round of testing in the indoor pool area. I didn't burn anyone, but it was so stressful, I actually slept for a whole day after doing that casting. The guys each took turns staying with me while I slept, just working from my room.

Air actually came the most natural to me. Now that we are at the end of winter and the weather is starting to break I have been spending more time in the woods behind the packhouse. Like being able to decipher different scents, moving the breeze, speeding it up, slowing it down was just as simple as breathing. But, I apparently make faces when I cast and that has been the most recent round of entertainment at our current bonfire.

The twins' update lets us know that Alpha Lucas, Alpha Reggie, Delta Kyle, Gamma Brett, My Dad and a few other warriors are in charge of moving our pack members to the Royal Pack territory. It has been slow going since each of them is taking one small family at a time. As they do, a warrior from the compound would move in to keep up appearances at the border houses.

Alpha Reggie decided that all non-warriors needed to be moved from any packs in a 500 mile radius of the Rogues last known position. We still don't know their motivation, but we don't want to take any chances. They haven't made any other attacks that we are aware of since our attempt to track them, but the warriors also haven't seen signs of them collected in large groups since then either. "I can't believe how tough these rogues are to find and track." Jena says.

"Well, they've been doing it for years, lots of time to practice. Especially if the motivation has been passed down a couple generations." I shrug, taking a drink of the whiskey Sam just handed me.

"Can it really be that simple though? The Alpha King's uncle is pissed about his dad getting the position, because he was the oldest. That seems like a stupid grudge to hold onto for so long." Wyatt asks. "It's no different than Kevin, grasping at any type of power he can get because Sam's dad got the Delta title." I say.

 

 

Chapter 0463

"How do you figure?" Mateo asks

"He's settled for power as the head of the school board in order to try and manipulate things for him and his daughter. It's why he keeps pushing her on the twins, why he stalled the building of his home, hoping a forced proximity will help her chances. When we were younger at school she was always paired with Cam and Kota, even though she and I are a year younger than you guys. But she's not the only girl, have you noticed the amount of female attention that has surrounded the guys lately? It's going to get worse before it gets better." I shutter.

"I hope you guys all find your mates quickly, some of these girls are nuts." Jena grimaces. "I actually heard two people plotting to get pregnant so you would have to take them as chosen mates. You need to watch your backs and make sure you wrap it up tight."

"Yeah, we've started to feel the crazy vibe." Cam stares into the fire. "I just wish they wanted us for us though, or could even have the smallest respect for the fact that we want our mate."

"So you're sure that you will both share a mate?" Lil asks.

They share a look and then nod.

"Do you know who it is?" She questions with an eyebrow raised.

"No one knows, not for certain." Cam tries to deflect.

"But that look on your face says you do actually have someone in mind." She points between them. Neither respond or look up from the fire.

"We need a game!!" Sierra shouts suddenly, startling everyone..

"What did you have in mind?" Sam nuzzles her neck.

"The bonfire is supposed to be fun, not depressing and all we talk about is work, which right now is depressing. I want to know about all the new friends Sky has made, since I have lived near them all for years but I don't know anything."

"As long as we can just sit here and keep drinking, I'm okay with that. This week has been rough." Mateo sighs.

"How about 'never have I ever?' or Truth or Dare, but the dare is you have to kiss someone of the questioner's choosing. We'll keep it short and simple."

"I feel like there is nothing of the sort when you are involved." Lil laughs.

"You are not wrong." She winks. "Now what are we playing?"

"Never have I ever." The twins say together, a strange look in their eyes.

"You afraid to have to kiss someone here?" Sierra teases them.

"I'm not really interested in making out with Sam, I'm pretty sure I know where his mouth has been." Kota winks.

Sierra pretends to be offended and throws her empty cup at him, but he bats it away easily and laughs.

"Fine, I'll go first. Never have I ever kissed someone in this group."

Sierra and Sam drink naturally, Oliver and I both drink, but so do Lil and Wyatt.

"What's the story there?" I ask Lil and Wyatt, ignoring the small growl coming from Cam next to me.

I don't think that tension went unnoticed, but Lil starts talking like nothing is weird.

"Wyatt and I got our brands at the same time and I was curious about the hormone suppression thing. I mean that's a weird thing to shut down and oddly specific. I was curious if you could override it somehow like was the suppression to just keep you away from the opposite sex or could it keep you from desiring it at all. There are so many questions."

"So what happened?" Sierra giggles.

"You know how when your hand falls asleep and you know it's there but you can't feel anything just before the tingles start. That's what it was like. It was hilarious, she kissed me and I knew that our lips were touching, but I couldn't actually feel it."

"So you haven't had sex, or done anything else in almost two years?" Sam sounds appalled.

"None of us have." He tilts his head to each of us with warrior brands. "It keeps our heads on straight during a mission and keeps us from getting manipulated. Some of our missions have been intense and without the link we have all of us would have died at least once, Midge at least six times."

Growls surrounded the clearing.

"I see what you did there. Thank you for throwing me under the bus." I shot through the warrior mindling, so they all heard.

"Do you want to keep talking about your sex life?"

"Sierra will bring it back, just you wait. She's a force that can't be derailed."

"Hey no secret conversations!"

"What does he mean, you would have died at least six times?" It's Mateo that asks.

"My job is dangerous Mateo. I am a

unique size and age for a warrior, so

the missions that I go on tend to be

more intense. Without the warrior lin, and all the restrictions that come with it, my team would not have been able to find me. That is all. It's not any different than you all putting your lives on the line each time you run a patrol, knowing that rogues are out there, probably watching and timing everything, just biding their time."

"NOPE! We are back to depressing. What I really want to know is who did you kiss?" SHe looks at me.

Now I'm confused. "Oliver kissed me, remember?" She looks between Oliver and I and he looks ashamed. Does he regret kissing me?

"Umm, no, I don't remember that! When did that happen?""

"When we went on lockdown, and they found the fingers of the two Lunas. I was in Luna Ava's room and the memory of the silver kind of sent me into my head." "She stopped breathing and wasn't responding to anything else. I panicked and my wolf took over, but it broke whatever had her frozen." He looked right at me. "That is something else I am so curious about, but we will table it for another drinking session.” Jena says.

"What's that?" Sierra asks.

"This whole connection with Midge and everyone. I know you all feel it too, but like I said for another drinking session. Never have I ever had sex in a public bathroom." Everyone but me drinks. Gross.

"Never have I ever received a BJ at school." Sam asks.

Of course all the guys drank, but I laughed when Lil drank too.

"What? I assume it includes the female equivalent."

"Of course." Sam agrees, laughing.

"Oh well in that case..." Sierra says, taking a drink and Jena follows suit. We all laugh again.

The questions keep coming and give me a lot of insight to my friends that I'm not sure I needed.

Finally though Wyatt looks at me, "You are far too sober for this game.”

"Not if you do the math. I did not hang out with anyone until Sierra came to our pack. I was only

fourteen, fifteen then. Then I went t

straight to warrior training that summer and got my warrior brand where all of my teenage raging hormones have been suppressed for almost two years now. Not a lot of time to fool around with anyone." I shrug.

"Hold on! That was your first kiss? Ever?!" Oliver looks like he's going to be sick.

Before I can respond, all hell breaks loose.

"Attack on the border, get everyone to safety, we need all warriors at the northern end NOW!"

 

 

 

Chapter 0464

Lil, Jena, Wyatt, Nathaniel and I all jump up. Everyone else looks alarmed.

"What's going on?" Cam and Kota ask together.

"Border attack. Nathaniel stay here so you can be my go between, their alarm hasn't been raised yet. Wyatt, you and Lil go now, Jena and I will meet up."

"On it boss." They both shift and take off.

"You need to alert your dads. Northern border is under attack. Nathaniel can fill you in, I need to go." I look at my guys and Sierra, then turn and shift midair taking off, Jena hot on my heels. "What the f*ck, Tiny?!"

"How did you get the alarm before us, Smalls?"

"That's what I was talking about with the warrior brand. It is stronger and has a farther reach. You guys have to relay a message across the pack, we don't. Now move your asses. This is a sh*tshow!"

I can feel the distance weaken our link as I get further away. As Jena and I come up on the fight, there are at least a hundred wolves fighting right now. We don't hesitate to jump in. Jena and I go between human and wolf form easily, which is disorienting to the rogues who probably have never seen anyone transition like that. I'm sure Lil is having a great time messing with them,

I slide under another rogue trying to get his nasty rotting smelling jaw on me. I punch him in the ribs and stand to kick him in the same place. There is fighting everywhere around me.

"Nathaniel, where are my guys?"I grunt in between blows.

"Close, why?"

"I need eyes in the sky, there's no way this is one sided."

"They should be close enough for you to link them, I'll double back but it's going to take some time. This might be over by then."

"It's worth a shot, go! See if anyone is close that can help out."

Another rogue comes at me growling. I can see Jena not far from me fighting two rogues in her wolf form. Everyone is fighting more than one rogue, but I don't see any rogues I recognize. Something is wrong. But I don't have time to think about it as I am fighting off my rogue. This dude is big, but a little too overzealous in his movements. I grab him by the front leg with my jaw and swing around behind him, but he flails too hard trying to get loose and dislocates his own shoulder and howls in pain. I kicked him hard in the rib cage furthering the injury.

I hear Jena scream next to me then a fierce snarl rip from the trees. She is lying on the ground covered in blood, but I can't tell from here if it's hers or her opponent's. Probably both. I quickly move to my rogue and clamp my jaw down on the spot of his spine where his neck connects to his shoulders and twist. I will not make any of them suffer for too long. I don't know how many of them are willingly fighting or being forced too.

As soon as he's done, I move towards Jena, but my brother's dark gray wolf is already there next to her. I shift and run to him. He growls at me until he realizes who I am.

"Go, Mateo, I've got her. The pack needs you right now." He growls again, but this time he looks down at her, his wolf licks her face and she stirs. "See, we've had worse, I promise, she'll be okay."

He grunts again and takes out three rogues before getting ten feet from us.

"I need a status from all warriors."I put out to my team and all the Elite warriors that are here.

Every team checks in, that's a good sign at least.

"Does there appear to be a leader? Capture anyone who appears to be in charge. Take everyone else out. We have seen the size of their force, this is nothing."

I try to get Jena moving. Her dead weight sucks, but this is not the first time I've had to carry her big ass somewhere.

"Nathaniel, status. I need eyes."

"Nothing yet Midge, sorry, I'm working as fast as I can."

"Don't apologize, just work, something isn't right. Are your perimeter cams working. Don't think I didn't catch that."

"Yeah, they're live. Do you have your phone?"

"Yes." I dig my phone out of my utility pocket.

My phone starts lighting up as Nathaniel sends me feed links. I flip through quickly.

"ALPHA LUCAS! Get to the main entrance now. We have this edge covered. Take all available warriors with you. This battle was a distraction."

"Jena girl, you need to wake up now! We have work to do." I checked her over for any wounds, but I think she just took a hard hit to the head. I smacked her a couple times in the cheek, but she only groaned.

"Lil, I have Jena, she took a hit to the head. It looks like there is a second attack coming at the main entrance. My guess is the packhouse is the target. I'm headed there to make sure it's secure. Keep me updated."

"You got it boss."

I just rolled my eyes, shifted and then worked my way under Jena, draping her over my back. Then I took off as fast as I could. "Luna Ava, we need to secure the pups, not all of them are gone yet and a large group is trying to breach the main entrance."

"On it sweet girl. I have kids heading here and to the school. Are your tunnels functional?"

"Of course. I will head to the school to help corral. I have JEna with me, but she's knocked out at the moment."

"We'll take care of her. Anyone else?"

"So far all of our warriors have been able to check in regularly as teams. Last check in was about twenty minutes ago."

"Let's get these pups and Omegas set and then we can worry about the guys who are trained to protect themselves." She huffs a laugh, like this is an everyday thing.

I get to the school and it is chaos. So

many little pups not sure where to go. I quickly find older kids and give them instructions to the tunnels that

are built under the school to the

As

packhouse as an escape route, quickly as we can we get all the panicking kids down into the tunnels. I take five of the high school kids that have been doing morning training with me to sweep the school just in case any of them had decided to hide.

Once we were sure everything was clear the high schoolers helped me lift Jena, who was weak, but conscious. We head down the tunnels constantly reassuring the kids that everything will be okay, even though that isn't a promise anyone can make.

Once we get to the packhouse end of the tunnel, everyone is stopped and asking questions in confusion. I move through them like a sea of quick sand to get to the front. As soon as I get there I realize why there is a hold up.

 

Chapter 0465

Chapter 0465

"Get out of my way, you little gremlin!" Kaley shouts. "Your future Luna should be first." Then she pushes this poor little girl who can't be more than six out of the way. "Move your big ass and let me into the packhouse, NOW!" She yells at a warrior who was clearly stationed to protect the Luna. He's on a set of steps leading up to a door so I can't see his face, but he is clearly not phased by Kaley's outburst. I wade closer, Jena right behind me with a hand on my shoulder. It doesn't take much for the kids to move out of my way now that many of them have gotten a good look at us.

"Ramsey." I call out and he looks at me. He's a castle warrior, meaning this is serious. "How's the Luna?"

"She is with Delta Gwen, preparing. They decided it would be safer right now for all the pups and Omegas to stay in the tunnels." I nod'

"Do we have access to supplies? I have an injured warrior and I would like to check over the children. There was a lot going on and I'm afraid some of them might have gotten hurt."

"Yes, they will be bringing it down shortly. I would help, but some do not understand the need to stay down here and quiet."

"Luna Ava, Delta Gwen. we have the pups in the tunnels, but we have a Kaley problem and Ramsey cannot leave to come help you."

"Put that b*tch in her place! We are under attack and no one is going to die because she feels the need to be dramatic. Tie her down for all I care and you can let her and her father know that her aunt gave the order for that."

"Done! He'll be up shortly, let me know what else Jena and I can do."

"Kaley, sit down. Ramsey has a job to do and you are keeping him from that."

"His job is to let the future Luna into the packhouse where she can go into the safe room while we are under attack.” She puts her hands on her hips and turns fully towards me. I nod to Ramsey letting him know I have this. Jena moves around me to take his place. Making sure to rub her bloody arm across Kaley's

"AAAGHHH! What the f*ck?!" I ignore her and turn to the kids.

"Okay, I know everyone is scared and Jena and I look a little crazy right now." That gets a few giggles from the group. "We need to stay down here and stay really quiet while the warriors take care of the rogues outside. Can you all help me out, I need to know if we are missing anyone. Get with any siblings or family members so we can get a quick head count."

"I want to go to the safe room! Let me through that door, I command you! You little pissant servant, do as I command!" She is up in Jena's face and it is a testament to Jena's Alpha abilities that she stayed calm.

"Sit. Down. Now!" Jena's Alpha aura came through and Kaley stepped back from the door, but she didn't let that stop her for long.

I was watching both their interaction and the pups moving around taking a head count of who is here. Kayley turns to me and walks with a purpose. I have to keep telling myself not to cower down to her. She isn't stronger than me, and clearly no one else wants her in any kind of authority role. I stand my ground as she stomps over.

"This is all your fault. None of this would have happened if you would have just stayed away. Why can't you just die? At least the last time I had you beaten you were injured so bad you had to stay away for almost two years. It should have been noon as I longer. But, don't worry, as am Luna, you will be gone permanently. You will never distract my Alphas again, never darken our doorstep, never bring this plague of rogues down on us ever again. You unwanted, unneeded second Beta. Now tell your minion to move so I can get to the safe room before these rogues come and kill us all."

At her last words many of the kids start to cry and panic calling for their parents. I could punch her. I was feeling defeated at her admission of wanting me dead and out of the pack and that she will have me removed the second she can, but the minute she scared these kids and threatened their safety because of it every ounce of insecurity drained out of me.

I stalked towards her and grabbed her around the throat, pinning her against the wall. Her surprise was clear. I've never retaliated against her, but she took it too far this time.

"I was assigned to protect the most important people, my Luna and the future of this pack, the only reason you are even here is because you ran like a coward hoping to be protected by wolves stronger than you instead of trying to help the pack you so desperately want to be in charge of. Even now, instead of being helpful you are scaring these pups. You have been nowhere, know nothing of value, contribute nothing, so why should I even concern myself with you?" I let that insult sink in and just stared at her wide eyes.

"You are not my Luna and will never be my Luna. A Luna puts the pack above herself and does not stomp on the weaker members. A Luna makes her pack better, she isn't selfish or self absorbed. No one wants a Luna who can't or won't fight beside Ker Alpha. Who hides and needs a safe room. This is as close as you'll get to that by the way." I move closer almost touching nose to nose and growl just above a whisper. "You may get the chance to remove me, but I will always be a warrior and an asset to any pack that will have me. You will always be a weak social climber who has to put others down to feel important and use others as a shield to feel safe. You are not worth my time or energy, stay away from me and my friends or you will see what kind of warrior I am. Now sit your pansy ass down and let me do my job, or I will knock you out and put all of us out of the misery being stuck with you." I release her neck, giving her the full use of her airway. I step back and close my eyes and take a deep breath to calm myself before I turn back to the kids who all have different mixed looks on their faces.

"Now that we know who's in charge, do we have everyone?" Jena walks past me and winks while addressing the group. Not long after Ramsey walks in with Luna Ava and Delta Gwen, followed by several Omegas carrying blankets and water and snacks. A few of the kids run to their parents, but most are the children of warriors who live closer to the center of our pack and haven't been moved yet.

 

Chapter 0466

This was the reason we evacuated the way we did. We knew that if we were under attack these kids would be able to get to shelter quickly, on their own, if their parents were out protecting the pack. They are children of warriors, trained like warriors by warriors. So at least our plan worked. I just wish it was one we didn't have to test.

"Luna Ava, we checked everyone. None of the kids have any serious injuries. A few of the older kids need to be treated though. They did a great job fighting their way here. I look proudly at my students, who are actually my age, but seem so much younger for some reason.

"What about you two?" Delta Gwen looks at Jena and I. "You both clearly saw some battle today. Don't even think about arguing. Do you know what Cam, Kota and Mateo would say if we left you two like this?" She rolled her eyes at me, walking us to a quiet section of the tunnel.

"Luna Ava, what about me? I think I need to be treated too." Kaley walks up pretending to limp, the marks from my fingers clear around her neck, but only as red marks.

"When we have treated all open wounds caused in the fight, we will look at self-inflicted bruises." Delta Gwen walks up with wet towels and starts cleaning the wound on Jena's head. "It looks like the head wound is healed closed. How do you feel?"

"I'm nursing a wicked headache, but I'll live. I've had worse than that, trust me."

"What? Did you watch a couple of the males have nose bleeds?" Kaley snarks from behind Delta Gwen. Jena stops moving and looks at Kaley like she is an alien.

Then quick as lightning she grabs Kaley's arm and drags her close. Surrounded by the four of us, Jena looks a little deranged, butl'm not going to stop this. Kaley has clearly lived a sheltered life, but she has been misled about what women and men do in a pack. I almost feel bad for what is about to happen.

"You want to know what I have been through, princess? I watched as my parents were shredded to pieces in front of me by the Rogue King's army. Then I was taken captive and held in a dark room where I was chained to a wall by silver cuffs. I lived and slept in my own piss and sh*t. I was fed food laced with powdered wolfsbane and other poisons, but only enough so I couldn't fight back while I was spread open, my legs held wide by two guys while a third rammed his d*ck into me over and over and over again hoping to sire a child. I lost track after a year, but that happened almost daily. Don't question what other people have been through from your ivory f*cking tower. You are no better hiring guys to beat the sh*t out of Sky because you were jealous. You left her to die once, that's why her wolf came early. The second time you left her to die, her connection to her Gamma is so strong he was able to save her. Those are just the tortures that you caused her. You deserve far worse than either of us had to go through. You will be tried and punished for your crimes against your pack. Now go sit down."

Kaley just stood there stunned, but I don't know if it was from Jena's story or being called out for hurting me. Luna Ava reached for the cloth Delta Gwen was holding and a look passed between them. Delta Gwen turned around and wrapped an arm around a shaking Kaley.

"Come on, I have a special spot for you to stay tonight. No one will be able to bother you."

"I knew it!" Luna Ava hissed. "Why didn't you say anything, Skylar?"

"I did, but no one listened or believed me. It doesn't matter now. Where is she going?"

"The cells. Like Jena said, she will be tried for her crimes when this is all over."

"Can we just forget about her for a couple days?" Jena asked. "I really am alright Luna, but thank you."

"Have you had a check in from any of the guys?"

"No, we haven't but they did get your distress call and were able to cut off the group that tried to come through the main entrance. Thank you for that, we never would have gotten everyone to safety." "Is everyone safe, have you been able to check?"

"I have been sending out calls to all the omegas telling them where to go, there are only a few not accounted for, but we can't leave without risking our position. I won't put the pups in danger."

I nod. No matter how scared I am for my friends, my team. I can't the lives and safety of innocents.

"Guys. When you're clear, check in. We need a status update. Jena and I are with Luna Ava and Delta Gwen. The packhouse, pups and Omegas are secure. We have a few unaccounted for, but don't want to give away our position."

I sent the message to my team and the guys. I got nothing right away, but I did ask them to update when they were clear. It's now just a silent waiting game. I know Luna Ava and Delta Gwen are both checking in with their mates often, I probably would too.

Both Jena and I found some small pups alone, and afraid. We wrapped each of them up and sat down to snuggle. A little girl asked if the bad guys were going to find us and if we were going to die. Clearly something on all of their minds as five little sets of eyes looked up at us.

"Not if we can help it. We've been through stuff like this before and we always trust our training. Right now our training tells us to stay put, because we are safe. If we went outside right now, we could fight, but for

we would also be a get

our warriors too and they could get hurt."

"What else have you done?" a little boy asks. A few of the other kids smile and move closer. Jena and I tell a few modified versions of missions. Of course we tell all the

embarrassing details of thinthet

that

went wrong, getting them to laugh. I have no idea how long we were down in the tunnel, but eventually everyone fell asleep.

 

Chapter 0467

Cameron POV

We fought hard into the morning. I'm not sure what the purpose was or what the body count on either side is. All I can think about is getting back to the packhouse to make sure everyone I care about is alright. My wolf is agitated. We all are. We have all gotten close and not knowing where they all are and not being able to mindlink is nerve wracking.

We haven't heard from Sky or her team since we all split up. Nathaniel said she was close, but by the time we got to where we could smell she was fighting, she was gone and there had been too much going on to look for her. Mateo was going on about Jena being knocked out, but she was nowhere to be found. I hope it was minor and she was able to just get up and keep fighting or get to safety.

We are cleaning up the dead bodies now. Laying all of the rogues along our borders and setting a controlled fire. With magic involved we don't know how dark the rogue king has gone, but I don't want any of these guys coming back to fight again.

"Dad, has everyone checked in?"

"Yeah son. A few of Alpha Reggie's warriors did not survive,

but so far we haven't found any casualties from our pack yet."

"DAD!"

"Skylar is with your mother at the packhouse." He laughs, he knew what I was asking for. "There was an injury.."

"WHAT?! Is she okay?"

"Son, you have to cool it. You are not the only one worked up here. Her friend Jena took a hit to the head, I think, just before the second breach. Your girl is smart. She caught it before they crossed all the way into the peninsula. She went to help protect your mother and the pups. I haven't had a check in from them in a while, but they had everyone accounted for."

That both answers and doesn't answer my question. I was able to track down Oliver, Mateo, and Dakota while we were cleaning up. We took the long way back towards the packhouse and caught up with Lil and Wyatt.

When we finally walk in the door I see Sam, Sierra and Nathaniel sitting at the coffee table pouring over computers. "What's all this?" Kota asks.

"Midge had us put eyes in the sky last night and I have been following a couple of rogues who managed to get away, or they turned chicken and ran. We are trying to follow them, but they aren't completely stupid and are running in different directions." Nathaniel says without looking up.

"Is that the rest of my boys?" My mom walks in looking

tired, followed by Delta Gwen. She hugs us all, then steps

back. "Go shower and let us know if you need anything for your injuries."

"Mom! Where's Sky and Jena?" I ask, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice.

"They're down with the pups, still sleeping. The poor things were so scared they couldn't sleep. The girls took turns caring for them and telling stories. Come see"

She leads us down the stairs to the cells and dad's gym. But, instead of heading right to the cells or left to the gym, she walks around the metal stairs to just behind them and pulls open a trapdoor.

It's small, just big enough for my dad's shoulder to get through. She continues down another set of steps.

"Mom, how long have these been here? Where do they go?" Kota asks the question floating in my head.

"Long enough. They go from here to the school for a quick evacuation in either direction. Thank the Goddess for Skylar's plans or we might have been in trouble last night. Delta Gwen, Ramsey and I had to handle three rogues who did get through your lines. I forgot how much I love a good fight."

"Mom, you are crazy. Just show us the girls please." Kota practically whines.

She gets to another door that has a keypad, like the one to our third floor living area. She punches in a code and opens the door slowly. The dimly lit hallway, or tunnel had just enough light from strips along the ceiling for us to make out shapes from this distance.

We head down five steps to the metal ground and walk over to the mass of blankets and what I see smack in the center completely crushes me, I will never recover from this sight and I know my brother feels the same based on the force of his grip on my shoulder.

Sky and Jena are side by side, but it is our little blonde that has my attention. She is propped against the far wall with a blanket tucked behind her head for a makeshift pillow. Her beautiful blue gray eyes are closed but I would know the color anywhere and her full lips are in a small pleasant smile. There is a pup wrapped up next to her using her arm as a pillow. On the other side another pup is using her thigh as a pillow. But it's the tiny, burrito wrapped pup in her arms, tucked under her chin with a chubby little hand holding the end of her ponytail that has my heart beating a hundred miles an hour. Why is that the source of my undoing? I just stare, burning the image into my core memories.

"I thought that might be the case." My mom rips me from my thoughts with her mumbling. "We should get these pups upstairs, they are all going to be with us for a few days. I don't want them seeing anything they shouldn't. So until everything is cleared out, they are with us. We gave them all a quick check last night, but I have a healer coming over after all the warriors have been looked at. And Skylar and Jena, both need to be gone over with a fine toothed comb. Neither would let us actually treat them last night."

I love that my mom is irritated by the fact that someone wouldn't let her 'mother' them.

"Do you want us to wake them up or just carry them? I don't want to scare anyone."

"Use your aura to keep them asleep. Lenny, Gwen and some of the other girls have helped me set up the guest bedrooms for them. We'll keep the siblings together as best we can. The teens with no siblings can move to the farthest guest room. Sky and Jena's kids are littles with no siblings, they can go together. That should leave enough room for three sets of siblings to be placed in each of the last rooms."

"Did you have to phrase it like that?" I ask.

"Just making sure you're paying attention." She pats my chest and moves forward.

We spent the next hour slowly carrying kids from the tunnels up to the second floor and organizing them to my mother's specifications. We grabbed the kids on Jena and Sky last and they both jolted awake, tightening their grips like the protective wolves that they are.

"It's okay, it's over for now. Let us take you upstairs." I brush a few hairs out of Sky's face and wait for her to focus on me. Mateo is less gentle with Jena, picking her and her pup up, carrying them together up the steps. He's never going to make it through the trap door, but that's his fight.

 

Chapter 0468

Skylar POV

I am roasting. That is the first thing I think when my brain starts to come back to life and I am sore, but not where I thought I would be. I slowly open my eyes expecting the twins to be smothered around me, but it's not citrus and cinnamon that I smell. What I smell is sweeter like a tulip, then I get a hint of fresh cut grass, then pine.

I am not in my room or the twin's room. I slowly open my eyes and I can't move my head and almost jump for a second when another scent hits me. Jena's sharp and warm nutmeg scent. The spice blends with the others surrounding me and I am almost overwhelmed.

I can feel my heartrate pick up. I know Jena is here with me, but where is here?

"Jena. Hey Jena. I can't move. Where are we?"

"Huh?" Her groggy voice comes through the link, but she's awake enough to respond through the link.

I can hear rustling next to me and then a sharp intake of breath. She's stuck too.

"Who else is here? I don't recognize any of these scents, but they don't smell hostile. My wolf says we're safe."

"Mine too." I reply, but given our history Jena and I need to see, feel and hear that we are actually safe.

"Okay, I have a headache now, are you two okay?" Mateo's voice comes low across the room that I am now realizing is dark.

"Mateo, what's going on? Where are we?" I try to keep the panic down, he's here too, we aren't alone.

"You're in one of the guest rooms, we couldn't get your new fan club to let go of you two." He chuckles. "You have no idea how complicated that twas to get you guys through the trapdoor. Speaking of which, we need to talk about that design, Shorty. We should be able to carry an injured, or in this case, unconscious, pack member in and out of the tunnels."

I sat up slowly, not wanting to disturb the little pup next to me, Lily. "That was actually the prime reason for the design. The only reason to go to the packhouse would be to harm the Alpha and Luna or to kidnap them or someone from the Alpha's family. So it worked exactly as it was supposed to. If a pack member was so injured they needed to be carried, they could ultimately stay in the tunnels safely, heal and get the medical attention they needed and then join the fight again if possible. It is designed to have supplies, we just haven't gotten that far yet. We had to work in secret, obviously we did our jobs well."

"Yep, I think Cam and Kota are going to have some words with you. They aren't used to things slipping under their noses."

"Luna Ava, Delta Gwen and I are sure that someone in our ranks is double crossing us and they are close to you guys,

we have to prove it though, and like everything else around here that is proving to be the hard part."

He stretches and I really look around for the first time noticing I am surrounded on all sides, by pups and Jena. We are lucky the Luna keeps king sized beds in all of the guest rooms. I have Lily right next to me, little Stephanie is on my other side and Ronan is sprawled awkwardly across my legs, but he is out cold, so he must be comfortable.

Jena has Sebastian across her chest, which explains why she hasn't sat up yet. And Juliana on her other side. I look back at Mateo and he is wincing through stretching.

"Did you sleep in that chair?"

"Yeah. Neither of you have been away from us for a night. I still don't know why she has them, but Jena has nightmares and I didn't want her to wake up panicking from whatever memories and then also from being in a different room. You clearly weren't prepared to wake up here either. I don't know if I have ever heard your heart rate go that fast before."

There's a knock on the door before any of us can respond. Dakota pokes his head in.

"I thought I heard voices, are you guys alright? The healer is here to check the pups out, but they are under strict orders from my mom to check both you and Jena too. Don't argue. We let you all sleep as long as possible, but they are done with everyone else now."

"Okay, just give us a minute to get everyone up and around, where do they want to see us?"

"Down in the living room, we have a makeshift hospital set up. It was faster for some of the warriors to come here to be treated and find their kids."

I nod, "Alright give us ten, unless you want to help." I give him a rye smile. I've seen him play with the kids at training, but this is completely different. 2

He surprises me though and walks right over and gives Ronan a little shake.

"Hey, bud let's go get you checked out okay? The healers want to make sure you're nice and strong for the next battle." Ronan blinks a few times and then nods and crawls off the bed to stand next to him. "Give me your little clinger." He points to Lily. "I'll carry her down. She wouldn't leave you last night. It was hard to get the two of you out of those secret tunnels of yours. Even with both of you being small." He tries to pin me with a look and Lily didn't hesitate to go to him and wrap her tiny arms around his neck

"Like I told Mateo, that was the point. You ready?" I look at Stephanie then back at Jena who was finally able to get Sebastian up and off of her. Juliana holding her other hand.

They are all still really little. I think Ronan is the oldest at five. They are all first born kids of warriors explaining why they have no siblings yet.

We walk out into the hallway and Cam is waiting for us." You're awake! Let's go, Lenny wants to make sure she gets to feed you some food before it's all gone. The warriors have been eyeing your pancakes all morning. He reaches

down and picks up Ronan, giving him a toss before moving him to his back.

"Can I have a ride too?" Sebastian asks, looking at everyone.

"Gotcha!" Mateo snatches him up and flips him over his shoulder, Sebastian squealing in delight.

We all head down and into the open living room where there are three mobile cots set up and various medical

equipment, tape, garbage, herbs, slaves, creams, you name it, are strewn about.

"Oh! Well isn't this a sight?" Luna Ava stops in her tracks looking at us, her hand on her chest.

"Wha..? Huh? Oh. I see." Alpha Lucas walks in behind her, a huge smile breaking across his face.

I'm not sure if any of my other friends caught the

conversation before Luna Ava got our attention. "Let's get you all checked then we can have breakfast on the patio. Lenny makes the best pancakes."

The check-ups went as expected. The kids were more anxious about the 'bad guys' and if they would be coming back and how soon their parents could come and get them.

 

Chapter 0469

Most of the pups were able to go with their parents right away which was comforting. The warriors live close so no damage was done to their properties and most of them were healed of their injuries by the end of the day.

Lily stayed with me overnight. Her dad took a nasty bite from one of the rogues and it was taking time to heal all the torn muscle tissue. They recommended that his mate stay with him to speed up the process, but she didn't want Lily to see her dad like that so we are having a sleepover.

Jena and Lil kept her busy playing in the back yard all day, training to be as strong as her parents. Luna Ava was even able to get the pool cleaned and heated for all the kids to swim and wear themselves out. I gave her a bath in my small pool' bathtub and Sierra was now combing her hair while we all watched some kids show I have never heard of.

Lily has one of my t-shirts on and for the first time ever, something of mine is big on someone. She crawls onto my bed and curls up next to me under the covers. I don't think either of us made it five minutes before we were asleep.

I woke up at my usual early time, Lily still curled into my side, everyone else gone. The side of her face that was in contact with me is sweaty and a few of her soft locks are plastered to her forehead. I brush them away before I move to use the bathroom, which is what woke me in the first place.

When I got back, Lily was sitting in the middle of my bed, tears streaming down her face, looking terrified. I ran to her immediately.

"Hey, I'm right here. Are you okay?" I whisper to her.

"The window... The window... It made some noises and you was gone." She huffs in a big breath as I pull her into me and look out my window.

"Is anyone patrolling around the packhouse?" I have no idea what time it is or if everyone is asleep, but she's too little to make anything up and I can't leave her alone to go look.

As expected, all my guys responded. What I didn't expect was for them to come bursting into my room, further scaring this child. She screams and buries her head in my neck. I hold her tight whispering that it's okay in her ears. The boys are here to check out what she heard. While I am also giving them a look of irritation for not using their common

sense.

"What's up Tiny?"

Why are they all panting? "Lily heard something rattle the window and it scared her. I was in the bathroom. I just wanted to know if it was possibly a patrol or something." Even though we are on the third floor and a patrol wolf

would have had to climb up here to mess with the window. I'm still hopeful it can be explained.

They all move as a unit. Sam and Mateo leave out my

bedroom door, Oliver comes to the side of my bed between

us and the window and the twins approach the window with caution, taking in everything they can. I can tell they are linking with each other and leaving me out purposely. But, I only have eyes for Lily right now and she is trembling in my

arms.

I finally got her to look up at Oliver's back and explained that he is our very brave guard and he is here to help me keep her safe, cause it's always better to have two warriors working together than be by yourself. Then we shifted a little so she could see the twins working around the window, checking the entire thing before opening it and looking out. I'm trying to explain what they are doing so it takes her mind off of the idea of being scared and helps her focus on what they are doing to solve the mystery.

I always found that if I could break something down logically, then it became less scary. It seems to be the same for Lily. Both the twins are hanging out of my very large window. I don't have a balcony or any kind of ledge to step out onto, but this look is funny to Lily so we keep talking about it to make her giggle.

It doesn't take the guys long to look around then come back in and secure my window again. Then Kota closes the thick curtains, something I have never done.

"Cam walks over and sits on my bed, opening his arms to Lily. She doesn't even hesitate to crawl to him and let him bundle her on his lap. "I need to borrow Skylar for a couple of minutes. Can Oliver sit with you while we talk to her?" He brushes a lock of hair out of her face while she stares up at him, a little hero worship showing on her tiny face. She

nods at him and he smiles one of his blinding smiles. She hugs him around the neck then turns back to me.

"Come here, let me tuck you in and I'll be back soon." She crawls back to the head of my bed and under the covers. I tuck her in and move to grab a sweatshirt out of my closet. It is so much cooler when I don't have her little body radiating heat next to me.

When I come back out she has already talked Oliver into laying next to her. He's got his head propped against the headboard, one arm tucked behind his head the other has her tucked into his side.

It's cute to see these big, tough guys just soften with a look from a cute little girl. I don't think any of them could ever tell her no.

She's already back to sleep, so I follow Cam and Kota out of my room. I figured they just want to talk to me out of earshot, although I don't know why they couldn't do that over the mindlink, now that we are walking down the stairs. Something is off, but neither are talking so I just keep following.

We head all the way down to the first floor and into Alpha Lucas' office. When we enter, they close the door, but I notice we aren't alone. Alpha Lucas and Luna Ava are both here too. Now I am nervous.

"How long has your team been working together?" Cam asks moving to stand next to his dad behind the desk, Kota moves to his other side. I can't read their faces and that makes me worried. They didn't leave me out of the mindlink

so I could focus on Lily, they suspect me or someone on my team of something bad. It dawned on me that for the first time neither of them held my hand on the way down here.

We are not friends right now. I'm being interviewed, like a suspect. I don't know what they found, but now I have to defend myself and my team and everything I do and say is being scrutinized. My whole posture changes, my mind shifts as if I was debriefing with Warrior Osiston after a mission. I stand straight, assuming attention with my chin held high, hands clasped behind my back and focusing on a spot in the wall just above Alpha Lucas' head.

 

 

Chapter 0470

I take a slow breath in, then begin. "Wyatt, Lillian, Nathaniel and I met at trials two summers ago. They were selected for Elite Warrior training and went through the branding process before I arrived. They helped me catch up with the training since I joined the program after their session started. Jena and I met while we were both held captive by Mike and the Rogue King's army near the University of Maine, while I was undercover with Wilhemina and Warrior Nickolas."

"Heads up. Sh*t is going down. I'm down with the Alpha, Luna, Cameron and Dakota being questioned." I mindlink my team without so much as pausing in my story to my pack leaders.

"Mina and I received partial Warrior brands so Nickolas

could keep track of us since the end goal was for one or both of us to be captured. The brand was applied by Gentry, Warrior Nickolas' mate, shortly before she was captured by the Rogue King's guys. Jena and I were able to eventually escape and Warrior Osiston and Alpha King Reginald decided that she needed to stay with the warriors while we research the outcome of the survivors from her pack."

"What the f*ck!" Both Jena and Lil say together.

"Stay put for now, they don't know I can talk to you and them at the same time. They are asking about our team. I don't think they suspect me, but I don't know what's going on yet. Quick recon from where you are. There was noise outside

my bedroom window, start there."

"Got it boss." Nathaniel responds.

I take another deep breath, appearing to collect my

thoughts. I have to give my friends time to figure out what the twins found. "Jena and I both suffer from some PTSD from our time in captivity. We seem to do better when we are close together, we share a room at the training compound and typically bunk together when we are on missions. The five of us have been working successful missions under the direction of Warrior Osiston, Warrior Nickolas, Warrior Thomas and Alpha Reggie since Jena and I fully physically recovered."

"How well do you know your teammates? Do you have their backgrounds, histories?" Alpha Lucas asks, staying stoic. He's in Alpha mode.

"Well, for obvious reasons, I have an extensive background on Jena. She and I share a trauma, hers is far deeper than mine." I look at Luna Ava, who heard Jena's outburst to Kaley. She gives me a little nod. "When Jena was captured, Mike thought that breeding with an Alpha female would give him a strong heir. When we finally traced all of her events back to her pack being attacked, we found that he had her about a year. So when they caught me he had been r*ping her almost daily for at least ten months. My time with her allowed me to witness up close and personal his violation of her. I got her out of that situation, we have a bond, she is loyal to me."

"Anything?"

"Nothing yet. It took me a minute to get a drone outside. We have warriors outside our rooms now. We are being

observed." Nathaniel whispers, even though we are talking through our warrior link.

"Give me a job, somebody. I'm starting to feel

claustrophobic now."

"I'm stuck too. I am with pups in the living room, but Delta Gwen just showed up. I have a clear sight to the front door, and I can hear into the kitchen. Nothing on the first floor other than the Delta." Lil reports.

"Wyatt, do you have a computer?" Jena asks. "I can't do anything. Mateo is here with me pacing the room. He's super pissed. Not sure what has him angry though. Him being trapped with me. Being forced to watch me like a prisoner or knowing you are being questioned, Midge. Not sure what they said to him. He hasn't spoken to me yet."

"I have my laptop, talk me through what you're thinking."

"First, surround yourself with blankets. Muffle the sound of typing." I drowned out her explanation to log onto the security cameras that they installed everywhere to catch Kaley and her dad up to something.

"Nathaniel is our main computer guy, although Jena has plenty of skill. You've seen them work together. His pack is closer to Canada. He's the youngest of five boys, all warriors like both parents. His dad is the Gamma of their pack. He was obviously not going to gain that title so he focused on becoming a warrior and he happened to specialize in

computer programming and with Elite, surveillance."

"There are ten warriors patrolling the packhouse and none of them are our guys. I can't get too close or they will hear the drone. They are inspecting all the external walls and windows though. Wyatt, what's on the cameras?"

"Wyatt and Lillian are both warriors from neighboring packs and came up for trials. Both come from warrior families and have full Elite Warrior brands like Nathaniel. The brands bind us to Alpha Reggie magically. We cannot go against him or lie to him, do you think he would put any of us here if he suspected us of foul play? Now that I have unnecessarily over explained the legitimacy of my team, does someone want to explain what you found outside my window and why I am being treated like a traitor."

I cross my arms and let my aura fill the room fully. I have never used my royal aura before, but the more that I talk and explain the more angry I get. The only person who does not turn their head is Alpha Lucas. He stares straight at me.

"Show her." Alpha Lucas says, not looking away from me. "These were hanging outside your window. You and your team are the only ones who use this kind of stuff."

It's a camera and listening device, similar to our equipment, but not the same. Only we would know that though since Nathaniel modifies everything we use. I don't even know if Warrior Osiston and Alpha Reggie know. Or, if they do, they don't say anything.

"May I touch it, sir?" I'm keeping the formality until I know

what's going on.

He nods. I use one finger to spin the device in a circle. Then I laugh, just laugh. This is so stupid and they have been played. I pick it up and open the casing. It's empty, there isn't any mechanics.

"How many more of these have you found around the pack house? I look up at all of them. Obviously, you have had suspicions for a while of a traitor. The tunnel construction was a big giveaway, but there have been other signs too. This was clearly planted to make you think my team and I were spying on you. I bet this wasn't even outside my window. This isn't ours anyway."

"Explain." I open my mind link to my team so they can hear my explanation. The Alpha's office is actually lined in a way so no one can listen in and only he and the Luna can mindlink out. He still doesn't know all of my abilities.