Blindsided: Book 2 of the Bound Trilogy

~Unknown POV~

I could sense my pack mates running through the woods around me.

We were on the hunt for the bastards that killed so many of our friends and family.

Hunters.

A growl rumbled in my throat, echoing through the trees.

‘Alpha, is everything okay?’ one of my pack sent through the mind link.

‘Dammit, Evan, I’ve told you not to call me that.’ My irritation shouting through the link. ‘I’m not the Alpha, no matter what the council says.’ I mumble the last part to myself.

The only reason the council named me Alpha was because I mated early. Just thinking about the cheating bitch got my blood boiling. I thought she was my mate, that she was supposed to love me and only me. Then I find her in the arms of another just barely a month after we mated.

She knew everything about me. What I was, what my hopes and dreams were for those who followed me, everything.

Now she could rot in Hell for all I cared. Right now I had to focus on the task at hand. The Council had called and said their informant was positive the Hunters were going to be in this area. We were in the middle of bum-fuck Colorado and it was making my skin crawl.

Something was going to happen, I just knew it. Whether we finally got rid of these bastards or we, ourselves, were killed, I didn’t know. But something was in the air and I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not.

‘Well, is it the Hunters or not?’ came the irritated voice of one of my best friends. If Evan and I hadn’t grown up together, I would have ripped his throat out for talking to me like that.

Sighing, I sent, ‘No, it’s not the Hunters. I was just thinking about something and I growled by mistake. Just keep running until we get to the pack’s borders.’ I instructed. ‘The Council was sure their informant had viable information on what was going to happen. We need to get to this pack’s main house and warn their Alpha.’

‘Why didn’t the Council call the Alpha themselves?’ one of the other members of my pack questioned. No one in my pack liked the Council, but we had to live with them and do what they said. We were part of their Enforcers and we were meant to ‘enforce’ their rules. If they said to run all the way to middle-of-nowhere and wait for instructions then that is what we were meant to do. If they said to cut out our own throats, we were not to question them. Just to do it.

‘You know the answer to that,’ I sent to all of my pack. ‘Now run! I have a feeling we are going to be too late to stop an attack.’

With that everyone picked up their pace and moments later we heard the eerie sound of an alarm going off.

Looks like I was right. The pack was already under attack. Sending out instructions on what each member was supposed to do, we charged straight for the main pack house.

What greeted us would have made a lesser wolf cower with their tail between their legs. We were not lesser wolves.

We were White Wolves and we were out for revenge.

~Devin’s POV~

Why couldn’t Leah and I just have a moment to celebrate being with each other. It seems like every time something good happens to us, something comes along to ruin it.

When we mated for the first time she was taken and had her mark forcibly removed. Now we find out some good news and all Hell breaks loose.

When will it end!

After Leah had told me that she needed the pack doctor, I had carried her through the huge pack house to find the elusive pack member.

Alpha Matt had directed me to the doc’s office and I had barged in not caring if he was busy or not. My mate came first, last, and always.

Luckily, the doc wasn’t busy and took a look at Leah per her request.

A few short minutes later he had come in saying that we should expect a new addition to our family in less than four months. I was stunned, excited, worried, and a million other things besides. I had looked at Leah and she sat in the doc’s office with a small knowing smile on her face.

I couldn’t take it any longer and dragged her to me, kissing like our lives depended on it. I would have kept going but her stomach had interrupted me.

When I pulled back, the doc was laughing, and saying that we needed to keep Leah fed as she was now eating for two.

I didn’t need to be told twice and carried her out of the office and into the kitchen as fast as I could.

I never did get to make her anything, as she leaned forward and kissed me again. We were in the middle of a pretty heated make-out session when we were interrupted by Jack and Emily walking in, and alarms going off.

Now I was stuck in a safe room with Leah, Emily, and the other women and children from the pack. I wanted to be out there helping to protect my mate and my new family, but my wolf wasn’t strong enough. As it was, it took most of my strength just to walk without a limp the last two days. Eventually, I would be back to normal, but in the meantime I hated feeling useless.

I was an Alpha, I should be out there fighting not stuck in some hole in the ground.

Slender arms wrapped around me from behind, stopping the pacing I hadn’t realized I was doing.

‘It is okay,’ the soothing sound of my mate’s voice calmed most of my nerves, but my wolf still wanted out to fight. Her hands rubbed up and down my arms, turning me so I was facing her head on.

Her face was paler than normal and her eyes were huge in her small face. It was then I realized that she must be having trouble being underground after being trapped there her whole life.

Pulling her to me, I kissed the top of her head and rocked her in my arms. ‘I’m sorry, little one,’ I sent to her. ‘I didn’t realize how hard this must be for you.’ I pulled away to look in her eyes. I could see the underlying fear, but I could also see the certainty that she was not going to let this get the best of her.

‘Don’t worry about me right now. Emily is the one who is in need of comfort.’ She gestured to where Emily was isolated in a corner. You could tell her other pack mates did not know how to act around her. She at one time was their friend, but since her assault they were unsure what to do.

She was standing there, staring straight ahead with her sunglasses hiding the scars that were sure to mar her face. I could only imagine what she is going through as her and Jack have not mated. She would not know what is going on, how he is doing, anything.

Occasionally she would rock back and forth on heels, rubbing an absent hand over her protruding belly.

Grasping Leah’s hand, we headed in her direction. There was no way I was going to leave my new sister to handle this on her own. I may not be able to fight like I want to, but I could still take care of my family.

~Emily’s POV~

I was scared.

I couldn’t let it show though. I was an Alpha’s daughter. I had to be brave, and let everyone see that I was unconcerned with the events going on outside.

But inside, my nerves were going haywire. When the alarm had sounded, I froze. I didn’t know what to do except to tell Jack and whoever else was in the kitchen that it was Hunters.

A moment later my father came running in ushering us into the safe room in the basement. I had always hated it down here. There were no windows and only a single light affixed to the middle of the ceiling. The door was reinforced with Silver and titanium. That way, no rogues or any weapons a Hunter may have can get through. The only way to open the door was for the Alpha to do so. If the Alpha should die then the next in line was only able to access the door.

I wasn’t scared for anyone in this room, I was scared for Jack out there fighting. I tried to keep a hold of him when we were forced to come down here but he just kissed me and went to help out the rest of the warriors.

I wanted to cry out for him, but I knew it was useless. He needed to be out there, fighting to protect me, my unborn child, his Alpha, and his Luna.

I was surprised when Devin did not leave to help fight, but Leah had informed me that he had been ill and was not well enough to fight, no matter how much he wanted to.

It was selfish, but I wish he had gone to fight instead of Jack. Now, I was stuck down here with members of my pack who I had not spoken to in a long time.

I could feel their eyes on me, judging, weighing, wondering.

Suddenly, I felt a presence in front of me.

“Emily, are you all right?”

It was Devin. I almost sagged in relief that it was not some curious pack member wanting to see if they could get a glimpse of my scars.

“I’m fine,” I said to him. I wasn’t though, my nerves were on edge, and I felt like I should be running around screaming from all the energy running through me.

“Emily, I know that’s not true,” he whispered. “You keep rocking back and forth and rubbing your stomach. You haven’t even moved from this spot.” I felt a gentle hand touch my shoulder. It must have been Leah as it was small and delicate.

“I’m just worried about Jack,” I admitted. “I can’t feel him, and it’s driving me crazy not to know if he’s okay or not.” My hands wrung together unconsciously. When will someone let us out of here so I can find him?

“It’s okay, I’ll try and see how things are with him, but I don’t want to distract him if he’s fighting,” Devin tried to reassure me. I could only nod.

Any news would be appreciated.

There was a moment of silence and then the energy around us shifted. I could feel tension rolling off of him in waves. He placed a hand on my arm, “Emily, he’s okay, but there is something you and Leah need to know.”

I was confused. All I cared about was that Jack was okay. What could possibly matter besides that?

“What’s going on?” I muttered.

“Well it seems...”

CLANG!

He never got to finish as the heavy door leading to our safety swung open. The sighs of relief coming from everyone almost overwhelmed me.

I grasped desperately for Leah’s hand that was still on my shoulder. I needed help getting out of here and her and Devin were the only ones I trusted right now. I had to find Jack.

“Shit,” Devin swore under his breath. He grabbed Leah and I and pulled us out of the basement.

Suddenly, I was on my own. I know I was in the kitchen, but I couldn’t feel anyone around me. Then, strong arms were lifting me and swinging me in circles.

The shocks were the only thing letting me know it was Jack holding me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and giggled as I was twirled in the air. It’s a good thing I can’t see otherwise I would have gotten dizzy.

He was back, he was safe.

I placed my hands on his cheeks as the spinning slowed and kissed him.

He was mine.