#3 By the Light of the Silver Moon

Fox

I was sitting in my office when I first felt it, a stabbing sensation in my chest. I had only felt a pain similar to this once before, when Marigold and I were still separated. I gasped and clutched my chest, reaching out to Marigold, hoping that I could sense her presence. My efforts snapped back at me like a rubber band. Suddenly I felt dizzy and weak, like all the air was being sucked out of the room; my body felt like it weighed a ton. I named the feeling: powerless.

I jumped from my chair and ran through the packhouse. I knew Marigold had gone to the stables with Stone. I started to frantically mindlink Stone but got no reply.

“Ferra!” I yelled.

“Alpha?” She replied, sensing my fear

“Can you reach Stone?” There was a brief pause and then Ferra responded,

“No, I can’t. What’s going on?” Ferra began to sound worried.

“Something’s wrong with Marigold. They went to the stables and now I can’t get a hold of Stone.”

“I’m on my way.”

I snapped the mindlink closed as I raced towards the stables. Ferra arrived at the same time as me and we searched the building for any signs of our mates. One of the stalls was empty and I knew Marigold’s favorite horse was the one missing. I found Cassie in another stall, brushing a horse.

“Where did Marigold and Stone go?” I asked, startling the stablemaster.

“Oh, Alpha, I didn’t hear you come in.” She gasped, spinning around.

“The Luna and Gamma are missing.” I growled. Cassie’s eyes went wide,

“They left over an hour ago. It’s not unusual for them to be gone for hours at a time.”

“Where did they go?”

“Through the pastures, up towards the flower fields, along the edge of the territory line.” Cassie said. Ferra and I shared a quick glance before bursting into our wolves and taking off in that direction.

We were able to catch onto our mates’ sense pretty easily and followed it up through the pasture. We made it to the top of a grassy hill before the scent change course and was mixed with unfamiliar wolf smells.

“Someone else was here.” Ferra said.

“Stone’s scent goes that way and Marigold’s scent heads in the opposite direction. You follow Stone and I’ll go after Marigold.” I instructed, taking off towards my mate’s scent.

A few minutes later, I was nearing the furthest point of our territory line. Ferra finally mindlinked me an update on her search,

“I found Stone, he’s in bad shape, Fox.” I could tell Ferra was crying. She showed me an image of her mate.

“He’s been attacked by wolves. Get him to the packhouse and send reinforcements to my position.” I ordered.

I had a pretty good idea who was capable of sneaking into my territory, attacking my Gamma, and kidnapping my mate. This had Alpha Torrin’s name all over it.

Marigold’s scent led me to a small cottage at the edge of the territory border. Four familiar scents were joined with the unfamiliar pack and my mate. I just couldn’t place where I knew the four wolves from. It didn’t matter. Anyone involved in my mate’s disappearance would pay the ultimate price. I wasn’t about to wait for backup, so I started circling the house, looking for a way in.

There was a small window on the foundation of the house, likely a basement. I decided that was my best chance at sneaking in. I shifted back into my human form, and kicked the window glass in, sliding through the tiny opening. I felt my skin being cut open by the shards of glass, but I didn’t care. I jumped to the ground and sniffed the air. My mate’s scent was strong here. I started searching the basement.

In the corner was a makeshift nest with a blanket spread out on the floor and another blanket discarded. There were two flashlights on the ground. There was a trail of blood leading to the steps. I growled dangerously at the sight of blood and sprinted up the stairs. I punched through the door, it flew off the hinges and crashed into the kitchen. I angrily searched the tiny house, but it was empty. Their scents were strong so I knew they hadn’t gotten far.

I ran out of the house and shifted. Hunter’s nose was on the ground as we tried to pick up Marigold’s scent again. Hunter threw his head back and howled when he found it. He lunged forward and raced through the woods. As if I was being led on some kind of wild goose chase, the scent led us right back to the packhouse. I growled in frustration. But, the scene before me told me that I was in the right place.

There were dead wolves all over the front yard, an equal number of enemies and pack members. Hunter whimpered at the sight of our dead friends. We had to focus. Hunter shook his head and climbed the steps to the packhouse.

The packhouse was completely trashed as dozens of wolves were engaged in battle. I followed my senses and found the women and children hidden in the parlor room, protected by warrior wolves. I knew my wolves could hold their own, and they were. There were more enemy wolves dead than friends inside the house.

I had to focus on Marigold.

Ferra’s wolf Rosie burst through the hallway then, coming from the direction of the hospital wing.

“We’ll handle this, you find the Luna!” She yelled out to me before joining the fight.

I didn’t respond, instead I lunged through the door to the steps and took them four at a time to reach the top floor, where I sensed our mate to be. Hunter was still in control as we stalked down the hallway, following Marigold’s scent to our room. I nudged the door open with Hunter’s head and he crouched his body low to the floor, on the defensive.

I recognized the Beta and Gamma from Ireland immediately. They were standing in our room, in their human form, seeming to be waiting for me. I shifted and grabbed some discarded clothes from the bed, glaring at Patrick and Collins. They didn’t move, only glanced towards the bathroom. I eyed them cautiously as I walked towards the bathroom. After I passed them, I ran the rest of the way through the bathroom and into the closet.

“Awh, good of you to finally join us, Alpha Finn.” Alpha Torrin sneered. I sensed Patrick and Collins coming up behind me. They shut the closet door, sealing us all inside.

The only thing I cared about was my precious mate. She was on the floor, kneeling in front of Torrin who had his hand wrapped around her shoulders. She looked pale and weak. I knew that Torrin had to be doing something to stop Marigold’s magic, otherwise she would have dealt with this weasel and his pack of mutts in no time.

She glanced up and her eyes met mine, a flicker of hope in them. Her hands went around her belly and I knew just what she was thinking. We had to protect our babies.

“Remove your hand from my mate.” I growled between my clenched teeth. I stepped forward, but Patrick and Collins stopped me. I snarled at them.

“Easy, Alpha Finn, we all know what will happen if I were to slip.” Torrin smirked, nodding towards the mirror that Marigold was leaning against. I realized then that he was threatening to push Marigold through the portal to the fae realm, killing me and offering her up to her father on a silver platter.

“You really are a coward, Torrin, you can’t even kill me yourself. You’re going to let a stupid deal do it for you.” I snapped. Torrin’s smile vanished from his face.

“I have no interest in proving who has the bigger dick here, Alpha Finn. I just want you and this little bitch handled.” He said.

“Obviously we all know who has the biggest dick in the room, otherwise you wouldn’t have removed Marigold’s magic. Afraid of a little fae princess, Torrin?” I smirked, bating the Alpha. Marigold glared up at me and I knew I was going to pay for that remake later. I winked at her and she rolled her eyes, a slight smile playing on her lips.

“I’m not afraid of anybody!” Torrin whined like a child.

“Prove it.” I dared him.

“I don’t need to prove anything to you.”

“Maybe not to me, but what will your pack think when they hear about your cowardice?” I asked, opening my arms wide as an invitation to fight me.

Torrin glared at me, his facade dropping. He glanced behind me, eyeing his Beta and Gamma. Then, he looked down at Marigold. I growled as his attention went to her, I didn’t want his eyes anywhere near my mate.

“You should know that a member of your pack is going to be my Luna, and three more wolves will be joining us. How does it feel that members of your pack have chosen me?” Torrin changed the subject.

I paused for a minute, temporarily rattled by his confession. I looked at Marigold who gave me a pointed look, and I realized who the four wolves were. The same familiar scents from the cottage.

“Renne, Kelly, Gabrielle, and Skyler. Which one is your mate? Let me guess…. Renee?” I almost laughed.

“She will make a strong Luna. Unlike yours.” Torrin smiled.

“Woah.” I mumbled, shaking my head,

“You know what, I’m just going to let you figure that one out on your own.” Torrin glared at my mocking tone. I saw Marigold’s fingers brush the glass of the mirror and the slightest green spark flare out from her touch. I continued to distract Torrin,

“You’re always going to be weak Torrin, you know why?” I asked, not waiting for Torrin to answer,

“Because you underestimate your opponent.” Torrin didn’t have time to react before the entire room was shaking and the mirror began to swirl, turning black.

In a matter of seconds, two figures emerged from the mirror. Solaris had flames literally coming out of his skin while Bayu’s body was just one big ball of white light. They descended on the closet as if they were sent from Hell itself. I stepped to the side and watched as the brothers unleashed their magic on Torrin, and his Beta and Alpha.

Bayu helped Marigold to her feet, taking one of her hands in his. Solaris took her other hand and together they seemed to be forcing life back into their sister. Soon, Marigold’s magic joined the princes’.

Hurricane force winds were raveging the closet, shaking the clothes and destroying the table that sat in the center. A flame snaked through the room, engulfing the walls.

“Finn, get out of here!” Marigold’s voice pulled me from my admiration of fae magic. I looked in her direction and determined that she was safe. I nodded once and slipped out of the closet.

From the outside of the closet, I could still hear and sense the destruction that was going on inside. Another five minutes passed before the room seemed to finally settle. I felt the familiar vibration of someone going through the portal, and then my mate was standing before me.

“Marigold.” I sighed, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her close to me. I tucked her protectivly against my chest.

“Are you okay? How are the babies?” I asked, running my hands over her body to check for wounds.

“We’re fine.” She mumbled, pulling away to look into my eyes.

“There was blood in the basement of the cottage.” I said, determined to find where she was hurt.

“Not mine.” She grinned. I paused in my search to look at the amused expression on her face. A slow smile playing on my lips,

“That’s my girl.” I grabbed her face and crashed my lips to hers. She chuckled against me and I was finally able to relax. Hunter was purring inside my head.