Chapter 179
Blair
POV
It was the cover of darkness and we stealthily slid through the trees and the underbrush, our wolves slinking low to the ground. We had forgoed the initial idea of taking the Dark Rising Pack at daybreak, certain that it would make no difference now that they were aware that Alpha Johnathon was missing and security was bound to be increased no matter what. Alpha Johnathon rode on my mate's back, clutching tightly to his fur, his gaunt face looking nauseous. He knew the ramifications if he betrayed us tonight. One false move, even the merest inkling that he would attempt to give our location to the enemy and he would be killed without hesitation.
We paused just outside the boundary and Braedon lowered his wolf form to the ground, allowing Alpha Johnathon to steadily climb off. The man stumbled, swaying slightly on his feet, as Braedon shifted, while I remained tense, in my wolf form, several nurses beside me, prepared to head in the direction of where we had guessed the cottages might be. "You're up Alpha Johnathon," Braedon said gravely to the man, nodding his head in the direction of the pack's territory which was but a few steps "tell your men to stand down unless they wish to risk their lives."
Alpha Johnathon nodded gravely. I saw his eyes go cloudy as he mind-linked his people. Not for the first time I wished I could do the same, but the instant that Braedon had marked me and I had accepted the role of Luna Queen, I had declared his pack my home and ultimately severed my bond with this pack, meaning I no longer had any links to it. It had been a sacrifice I had been only too happy to make, never anticipating I would ever need to make my way back here. We waited, impatiently, until Alpha Johnathon's eyes returned back to normal, and the other warriors braced to attack.
"My people have no desire to fight," Alpha Johnathon said, shaking his head and looking disgusted "In fact, they wish to be released from their current Luna. Ashton has gone missing it seems with no explanation for his absence."
Not a good sign when the Alpha of a pack goes mysteriously missing with no explanation. I shifted, facing Alpha Johnathon "Where are the cottages?"
He motioned to the east "My men estimate that way. It's the only direction they've heard construction going on and where they have been banned from wandering."
I nodded. Glanced at Braedon "We should split up. You find Ashton and the Luna, who should be in the packhouse and I'll go to the cottages" I said stiffly.
He opened his mouth to protest. "That's insane Blair" he argued "You're not in a state to fight. What if Bianca and Brynn are at the cottages right now? We go together."
I shook my head "No, we can't risk it. If they get wind we're here, they might make a run for it. We have to take on the packhouse and the cottages simultaneously and Brynn is an Alpha wolf and Luna Bianca is powerful as well. Your warriors are good, but they can't beat both."
"Neither can you if they are both there" hissed Braedon angrily.
"I'll go with her" Alpha Johnathon spoke up "Then it will be two Alpha wolves. That would even the scores right?" he added as we stared at him.
"With all due respect Alpha Johnathon" Braedon said with infinite patience and gritted teeth "I do not see you being able to take down your daughter."
Alpha Johnathon gave a sad smile "Perhaps not, but my ex-wife? That is something I'm more than looking forward to" he growled.
Braedon and I glanced at each other. I understood Alpha Johnathon's desire for revenge. Weeks in a dungeon, forced to reject his mate, treated cruelly and without mercy. Anybody would be angry. The fact it had been done by his own mate, only magnified his anger. I felt sympathy towards my father as his eyes narrowed and a look of rage appeared on his face. I should have felt something, even slightly merciful towards the woman who was meant to be my mother. But I felt nothing. Not even a twinge of pity. It was like I was dead inside when it came to her. I felt no obligation towards the woman who had brought me into this world.
Braedon was still hesitant, but the longer we spent arguing, the more that Luna Bianca was going to realize that something was amiss. "Braedon, we don't have time for this" I growled "I have these women with me, some warriors and Johnathon" I still refused to call him dad, "I will be fine. Besides, I suspect that Luna Bianca and her precious daughter barely leave the pack house."
He groaned. Then turned to Johnathon. "Can you ask your men if they've seen the Luna's lately and where their location is?"
My eyes widened. God, we were stupid. We should have done that in the first place. Judging by the look on Johnathon's face, he felt as incredibly dumb as I did. He mind-linked his men and then turned to Braedon with a frown on his face. "According to my men, they haven't seen either Luna in hours. There's a high probability they are still in the pack house but they can't be certain."
"Very well, James is coming with me" Braedon snarled, before turning to me and dropping a kiss on my temple "You let the warriors lead the way and you stay out of danger" he instructed in a glower "You do not put yourself in the thick of things. You promised not to remember?" he added as I nodded sheepishly.
"I'll take good care of her" Alpha Johnathon interjected.
Braedon stared at him for a moment. "If anything happens to my mate Alpha Johnathon, and I find out you're responsible, you're going to be wishing for death by the time I'm through with you," he said in a dark tone, that had me swallowing hard and Alpha Johnathon nodding with a serious expression on his face.
Braedon shifted and took some of his men with him, along with James. I did the same and waited for Alpha Johanthon, who took a minute to get into his wolf form. I was surprised to find that my own, dark black wolf, was bigger than his and looked stronger. Perhaps because he was so malnourished?