Chapter THIRTYONE-FAILURE AS A FATHER (Part 1)
Rachel POV
Ace and I were headed to the pack hospital to check on the pups. I was excited because we would find out what we were having today. After the attack a few weeks ago, Amber finally took a home pregnancy test, which came out positive. I was happy for Amber, Julio, Chloe, and Carlito. Like Ace and the guys, our pups would grow together and be the pack's leaders one day.
The elevator stopped on the fifth floor. Ace grabbed my hand, and we stepped off. I smiled as the pups kicked, and I rubbed my belly, feeling them move about and fight each other. I was now three months pregnant. Chloe was a month along, while Amber was a few weeks behind Chloe.
"Hey in there, well, you two knock it off," I giggled as the pups kicked more. Rayne howled happily.
"What are you so happy about?" I asked as she pranced around and puffed out her chest.
"I know what the pups are," she snickered and stuck out her wolf tongue. I gasped as Ace looked at me, his eyebrows furrowed with curiosity.
"Rayne said she knows the sex of the pups," I told him, and a broad smile appeared.
"Ask her what they are," he chuckled, and I asked Rayne what we were having.
"Sorry honey, you must wait to see the doctor."
"I'm not spilling the beans," she turned her nose up and howled with laughter. I grumbled as Ace bent over laughing.
"Stubborn wolf," I heard Rayne mumble under my breath.
"Staci knows also. Just remember that," Rayne said. My eyes widened, and I remembered that Staci did know from when she had that vision a few months ago when I came to visit.
Ace and I walked up to the nurse's station, and the nurse checked us in and walked us back toward a room. After we arrived, Ace helped me change into a hospital gown as the nurse left and said the doctor would be in shortly. A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door, and Ace called for the person to come in.
When the door opened, Antonio stuck his head in and asked if it was okay to come in. Ace nodded to his Dad as Staci, and my Mother entered the room.
"Hey, Mom," she smiled at me and waved to us.
"What are you guys doing here?" I asked as everyone smiled.
"We are here for the big show," my Mother said as everyone stood off to the side, and Dr. Scott walked into the room.
"Alpha Ace and Luna Rachel."
"How are we today?" he asked, and I smiled at the doctor.
"Well, considering these pups like to fight each other and play soccer with my bladder."
"I'd say everything is great, Dr. Scott," I said and heard chuckling.
I elbowed Ace in his side as he grunted. The doctor let out a light chuckle as I grumbled, and he proceeded with the physical examination.
"Very active," Dr. Scott chuckled as I giggled.
"Indeed," I said as he finished his exam and rolled over the ultrasound machine.
"Alright, let's see if they will still be long enough for us to see what they both are," The doctor smiled and proceeded with the ultrasound scan.
I felt the doctor squirt the cold gel on my round belly.
"Sorry," he apologized, and I just smiled and nodded.
I watched as Dr. Scott took the doppler and moved it on my abdomen as one of the pups kicked, and I giggled.
"Hey, be nice," I told the pup that kicked, and they quieted down.
Everyone chuckled as Dr. Scott moved the doppler, and the first pup appeared.
"There you are," he chuckled as we all watched excitedly.
I looked over at Staci, who smiled knowingly and grumbled under my breath. I heard Rayne bark in my head and howled happily as the doctor spoke.
"The first pup is a boy," he smiled at me.
I gasped and heard Ace cheer delightfully. I also listened to my Mom sniffle and Antonio pat Ace on the back. The doctor moved the doppler around again and found the second pup instantly.
"There you are, hiding from me," he chuckled.
"This pup is also a boy," I again gasped and cried tears of joy as Rayne howled.
"You knew, didn't you?" I asked.
"Of course I did, but I wasn't going to ruin the surprise," she said, puffing out her chest.
I rolled my eyes and looked at Staci. Her smile widened, and she approached me and leaned toward my ear.
"I knew they were boys. I'm happy for you and Ace," she kissed my cheek and rubbed my arm.
Ace POV
I was ecstatic. Both of my pups were boys. Apollo howled happily in my head that both pups were healthy and growing perfectly. I wouldn't have minded if one of them were a girl. Having a daughter who looked like Rachel would be lovely.
"I'm proud of you, son," I heard my Dad say as he pulled me into a tight hug.
My Father was always my hero. Even when I didn't feel like I was doing my job as the Alpha, he would always encourage me that I was doing a fantastic job and that no one was ever perfect. He always said mistakes needed to be made to learn from them and move forward with a strategic plan.
I watched my Mother lean down and whisper something in Rachel's ear. They both smiled, and my Mom kissed Rachel's cheek. I would have to ask Rachel what they discussed later.
"We are heading out for now, kids, and again, congratulations on the new additions," my Mom said as she and my Dad left the room.
Sarah hugged Rachel, saying she would see her later at dinner since she invited us to her cottage.
"Bye, Mom. See you later," Rachel said as Sarah left.
"Okay, Rachel, I have to do one more test, and you are free to go," Dr. Scott mentioned as Rachel nodded.
I watched as the doctor took some of Rachel's blood. He told us to return in two weeks. Rachel and I nodded as he left the room. I helped Rachel with her sun dress and kissed her belly.
"Hello, boys, it's Daddy."
"I can't wait to meet you," I heard Rachel chuckle, and I stood up and kissed her lips.
She moaned into the kiss, and I felt a thump against my stomach and looked down. I chuckled as the pups were kicking with excitement.
"Are you happy, little flower?" I asked as I looked into Rachel's eyes, and she bit her lip.
"So happy, baby. I hope they have your eyes," she said, kissing my lips again. I chuckled as she smiled.
"You can thank my Dad for the unique color."
"My dad, my sister, and I are the only ones with greenish-blue eyes," I said as Rachel smiled.
"I realized your great-Grandfather, Grandfather, and Uncle Acilio have the rarest dark blue eyes," I chuckled and held her close.
"Well, according to my Dad, the rare dark blue eyes mean the family comes from a royal lineage, as we are the last royal-blooded wolves in the werewolf world."
"My great-Grandmother Daniela mentioned it since she was mated to Adonis," Rachel said. I watched her nod in understanding as she stood on tiptoes and kissed my lips with a fiery passion.
"Mmm, Ace," she moaned as my cock hardened and strained against my dress slacks. I nibbled her lips and kissed her neck as she gasped and softly moaned.
"Ace..." I looked at her and saw the lust in her eyes.
Apollo pushed forward, and our eyes turned onyx black as Rachel bit her lip and rubbed her pussy against my stiff shaft.
"I want you," she whispered, kissing my ear lobe, causing Apollo to growl.
I sniffed the air and smelled Rachel's arousal. I wasted no time getting her out of the room. I picked her up and carried her toward the elevator.
"Ace!" she squealed as we waited for the elevator. Once inside, I set Rachel against the wall.
"Oh," she gasped.
I began to dry hump Rachel as the elevator ascended to our floor. The scent of Rachel's arousal was growing stronger as my need for her did. We finally arrived on our floor, and I quickly carried Rachel to our bedroom. Once the door was closed, I wasted no time stripping off the loose-fitting sun dress she wore and stripped out of my suit. Apollo howled excitedly in my head as we drooled over our mate.
"Goddess, you are so beautiful," I said as Rachel blushed and sauntered toward the bed, swaying her hips.
I growled as she gasped and laid back on the bed. I quickly pounced on Rachel and captured her lips in a fiery kiss. The goosebumps on my skin wherever Rachel touched caused me to groan as I leaned my head down and licked her marking spot. I heard Rachel let out a soft moan and grind her pussy against my stiff shaft. Before I knew what was happening, Rachel had flipped me on my back and straddled me. She grabbed my shaft and lined me up at her entrance.
"Oh, Goddess," I groaned as Rachel lowered herself and let a long moan. Her warm walls wrapped around my girth like a glove.
"Oh, Ace," she moaned and placed her hands on my chest as she impaled herself repeatedly on my cock.
I growled with pleasure as the tingles shot up my spine, and her breasts bounced inches from my face.
"Fuck..." I groan as she screams out in ecstasy.
I take one of her perky nipples in my mouth, rolling my tongue over the sensitive bud.
"Ace!" she screams out.
"Oh Goddess, Ace!" Rachel cries out.
Rachel POV
"Oh Goddess, Ace!" I screamed and felt Ace grip my hips as he helped me ride his cock.
"Yes!" I moaned when he rocked his hips to meet my tempo. Goddess, he felt so good inside me.
I trembled from ecstasy as I felt my orgasm building. I gasped when he flipped us over, kept a steady tempo, and moaned from the pleasure.
"Please, Ace!" he reached down and rubbed my clit as my climax approached.
"Fuck... I'm going to cum!" I screamed.
Ace increased his speed and licked my mark. I cried out his name as I came hard, and my eyes rolled to the back of my head.
"YES!" I moaned and heard Ace roar as his warm seed coated my walls.
I ran my fingers through his soft curls and kissed his neck as he gently collapsed on top of me, careful not to squish the pups. Ace leaned his head up and kissed my lips with fiery passion. I felt Ace rock his hips as he hardened inside me, and I gasped.
"Ready for more?" he asked as he nibbled my lips.
"Goddess, this man," I thought and rocked my hips against his pelvis.
Rayne howled delightfully in my head as Ace, and I went a few more rounds before dinner. I woke to the sound of water, reached my hand over to Ace's side of the bed, and realized he wasn't there. I yawned and stretched my limbs as one of the pups kicked. I giggled as the other twin joined his brother playing soccer with my bladder.
"Okay, you two knock it off," I said, exiting the bed.
I walked inside the bathroom as Ace was getting out of the shower. I stared at his body as water droplets ran down his smooth skin, and I licked my lips. I heard him chuckle as I blushed and went to do my business. After I was done, I quickly jumped in the shower as Ace dressed.
I was busy washing my hair.
"RACHEL, HELP!" I heard my Mother's voice shout through the mind link.
"Mom?! Mom?!" I screamed.
I exited the shower, almost slipped, screamed, and heard Ace rush into the bathroom.
"Rachel?!" he shouted as I gripped the shower rail to steady myself and grabbed a towel. I had tears in my eyes as I looked at Ace.
"Rachel, what's wrong?" he asked.
"Something is wrong."
"My mom linked me asking for help. I need to go to her!" I shouted as Ace came over and helped me to our bedroom.
"I'll link the warriors on patrol to head to her cottage."
"Are you okay?" he asked, and I nodded, unsure what to say.
My only thought was getting to my Mother. Ace helped me dress comfortably, carried me outside our suite, and headed to the elevator. I watched as his eyes clouded and his mind linked with the warriors. We got on the elevator and descended to the first floor.
"The warriors are on their way now. We will get to the bottom of this," I paced the elevator and felt Ace grab my hands to comfort me.
"I'm sure she's alright, little flower. Try to relax," he said, and I nodded.
I couldn't relax because my Mom wouldn't send a link like that if it weren't serious. We finally arrived on the first floor, and Carlito and Julio stood by the elevator waiting for us.
"Lucas Jr. reported back and said that Sarah's cottage was a mess, and she wasn't present in or near the cottage," Carlito told Ace as we hurried for the back door.
"Was there a scent of any kind?" Ace asked him, and Carlito nodded.
"Lucas Jr. said it had the stench of rogues," I gasped, tried to run for my Mom's cottage, and felt Ace grab me.
"Let go!" I shouted and felt tears glisten from my eyes.
"Rachel, calm down."
"I will shift and carry you. You're in no condition to be trying to run off like this," Ace growled, and I covered my face with my hands.
He was right. I'm pregnant and don't need to endanger our pups. I wasn't thinking like a Mother. I was overwhelmed with emotions and worried about my Mother. I could've put our pups in danger had I run off from Ace and hurt myself.
"How the hell did rogues get into the territory?" Ace asked as the guys removed their clothes. I turned around and waited for them to shift.
"We are looking into the patrols."
"Lucas Jr. said the scent goes toward the south side of the border," Carlito told Ace. Apollo lowered himself, and I climbed on his back.
"Hold on tight. It might get a bit bumpy, little flower," Ace linked me.
I held tight as Apollo and the guys quickly sprinted toward my Mom's cottage.
"Goddess, please let my Mother be alright," I silently prayed.
Earlier That Day:
Sarah POV
After Rachel's appointment, I returned to my cottage to start dinner. I was excited to become a Grandmother. I was giddy with joy. Sage seemed excited for the most part, but I know she was still adjusting to the changes. I have lived in the Blue Eclipse pack in the past few months and never felt more at peace.
After Adriel took over as Alpha, things drastically turned at the Golden Moon pack. Adriel worked his ass off to improve everything that Blake failed on as Alpha. I can honestly say Golden Moon has come a long way under Adriel's leadership. Adriel reports to me monthly on the business ends and continuously sends my monthly stipends. Even though I don't need the money, having some emergency money aside for my future grandsons is nice.
"Oh, Goddess," I nearly shout in my head. Rachel is having twin boys.
I wonder what they will name them. I thought as I stepped inside my cottage and walked toward the kitchen. Antonio had set me up with a lovely house. It was a three-bedroom and two-and-a-half-bathroom cottage with a nice-sized kitchen and living room. It even had an office and a nice backyard.
I lived on the south side of the territory, a fifteen-minute walk to the castle. Rachel only stayed briefly. I knew she and her wolf were missing Ace. I could see on her face how much the rejection was taking its toll on her, and I encouraged her to go and talk to him. When Rachel didn't return home that night, I knew things were going great between the two.
I removed the ingredients for baked chicken alfredo with fresh-cut green beans and buttered honey rolls. I decided to make a chocolate cake, as it's Rachel's favorite. I smiled and hummed quietly as I prepped the chicken. Elizabeth lived with me and got a job working in the pack's daycare, as they were short-staffed and needed extra hands. So, I had the cottage to myself.
After putting the chicken in the oven, I started on the rolls and green beans. While preparing dinner, I heard rustling outside my kitchen window and looked out the window, but I didn't see anything.
"Maybe it was a rabbit," I thought as I continued making dinner.
I set the table and went to take the chicken out of the oven. My back door slammed open, and the man I thought I would never see again walked inside my cottage with a sinister smile. I gasped and saw six other wolves with him as their eyes fixed on me, and they licked their lips.
"She's mine! But take whatever you want from the cottage," Blake shouted.
The men rushed in and started trashing my home. Blake came forward and wrapped his arms around my body, locking my arms in place. I tried to scream, but Blake quickly covered my mouth with his filthy hand, leaned his head down to my neck, and sniffed my scent.
"Hello, beautiful. Did you miss me?" he whispered as I thrashed in his arms. I felt him lick from my neck to my cheek as he groaned with satisfaction.
"I have missed you, mate. It's time for you to come back home with me," my eyes widened as his lips curled into an evil smirk, and I tried to fight him off me. I heard crashing as the rogues were destroying my home.
"RACHEL, HELP!" I linked my daughter as she was the only one I could think of to mind-link at the time.
Blake removed his hand from my mouth as I tried to scream and felt something pierce my skin. I saw Blake remove a needle, and my vision blurred.
"Wha... What did you give me?" I asked him as the darkness took over. The last thing I saw was Blake smiling as I fell to the ground.
Blake POV
I picked up Sarah's unconscious body as the rogues finished trashing the house and took some valuable stuff for sale later.
"Let's go! I have what I came for!" I shouted as the rogues also took the chicken that Sarah had made before we broke into her home.
I shook my head as the rogues laughed and started leaving the cottage. We quickly crossed the Blue Eclipse territory once we knocked out their patrol guards. I had visited Helena before returning and gave her the money I had stashed for a rainy day. In addition, she gave me some viles of wolfsbane to use on the guards and Sarah.
Once we exited the cottage, the rogues and I quietly ran toward the woods and shifted into our wolves. Declan strapped Sarah to Boulder's back, and we took off to the cave I had been staying in for the past few weeks. Once we arrived at the shelter, Declan unstrapped Sarah and laid her down by the fire as I shifted back and dressed.
"Go outside and stand watch. I need to be alone with my mate," I said as Declan nodded and left the cave.
I heard the other rogues laughing and going through their stolen stash as they divided everything between them.
I sat on the log and watched Sarah's breathing as her chest rose and fell. Boulder purred in my head as he watched Sarah's sleeping form.
"You didn't give her too much, did you?" he asked.
"No, you idiot. I gave her just enough to knock her out."
"She will wake up soon," I said as he growled at me.
"Don't growl at me, you stupid wolf," I heard him grumble under his breath, and I scoffed.
I heard a slight moan and watched Sarah's eyelids blink as she woke up. She sat up slowly as her eyes adjusted, and when her green eyes focused on me, she backed up to the cave wall and gasped.
"Where am I? Why am I here?" I sat there silently, watching my mate tremble with fear.
"Blake?" she asked, and I chuckled.
"Oh, dear mate, I brought you home so we can be the Alpha and Luna again."
"The only person missing now is our precious daughter," I said and smirked in her direction, watching her eyes widen in shock.
"We are not mates anymore! I rejected your sorry ass!" she shouted.
I got to my feet, and with a quick movement, I wrapped my hand around Sarah's throat as she tried clawing her way free.
"Listen up bitch. I am the Alpha, and what I say goes, understood?"
"Now, you will call Rachel and have her come out to the border of the Blue Eclipse pack."
"My men will take care of the rest," I told her as I squeezed her neck, and she coughed.
I loosened my grip as Sarah landed on the ground with a thud. She looked up at me with anger in her eyes. I chuckled and bent down to look into her eyes.
"Now, how about that phone call, hmm?" I said, and I gave her a burner phone.
Sarah took the phone from my hand with trembling fingers. I heard a commotion outside as Declan came running into the cave.
"Sir, the Blue Eclipse wolves are coming this way," he said as my eyes widened.
"How the hell did they find us? We left no trace of a scent when we crossed the river!" I shouted as Declan backed up, and he trembled slightly from my outburst.
I heard a laugh and turned to see Sarah smirking.
"You underestimate Rachel's mate Blake."
"He is a white wolf, and I'm sure he used one of his many gifts to find out where you are hiding," she laughed and threw the burner phone against the cave wall.
"Sir, what do we do?" Declan asked. I growled as Boulder pushed forward.
"I will not lose my mate again to a pack of mutts. Gather the men and meet me outside by the river," I watched Declan nod.
He ran to gather the other men. Only six of us were there, but I would not lose Sarah again. I would fight to keep my mate and pup.
Ace POV
We reached Sarah's cottage as Lucas Jr. and Rafe stood outside by the front door, waiting for us. Apollo lowered so Rachel could climb off, and we all went behind the trees and shifted, putting on clothes.
"What's the status?" I asked Lucas Jr. as he led us inside Sarah's cottage.
"The back door was broken through, and by the stench here, it was maybe five or six rogues."
"Also, the furniture has been destroyed, and most of Sarah's and Elizabeth's belongings have been taken," I looked around Sarah's cottage and noticed the damage the rogues had done. I sighed and rubbed my temples in frustration.
"Rogues weren't the only ones here," I heard Rachel's voice as everyone turned to stare at her.
"Who else was here?" I asked her as she walked around the cottage and sniffed the air.
"My Father was here as well. I know his scent anywhere."
"He's a new rogue, but his pack scent still lingers," I growled viciously and heard thumping paws approach.
I looked out the front door and saw my Father and Mother coming in wolf form.
"Dad? Mom? What are you two doing here?" I asked after they both shifted and put on some clothes.
"We heard about what happened to Sarah and wanted to come help."
"Tristan is bringing Elizabeth. What's Sarah's status?" my Father asked.
As Rafe checked in with the trackers, I told my Father all I knew.
"How the hell did rogues get into the territory?"
"We have tripled guard patrols since the first attack," my Father nearly shouted.
Some of his aura seeped out, causing everyone to whimper and lower their hands, except for me, Rachel, and my Mother. Even though my Father wasn't the Alpha anymore, he still had this immense aura due to our royal blood, which made him quite a powerful force.
"Our warriors on patrol were drugged with wolfsbane that knocked them unconscious, and according to Rachel, it was her Father who did this," I said as Ares fought for control. I watched my Dad's eyes switch between greenish-blue and black.
"Alpha, the trackers report the scents end at the river."
"So, they crossed to hide their scents. Tobias wants to know how to proceed?" Rafe asked as he entered the kitchen.
Tobias is one of our best trackers, and I know he wouldn't lose their scents.
"We are going across the river. They must have a shelter nearby that they're using as a hideout."
"Carlito and Julio, you two are with me. Rachel..." I started to say as she looked at me.
"NO! She is my Mother, and I am going, Ace!" she yelled as Apollo pushed forward and growled.
"Don't growl at me, I'm going, and that's final!" she shouted.
"I'll keep her safe," my Mother said as she stepped forward and hugged Rachel.
I sighed and felt defeated. Once Rachel set her mind on something, there was no changing it. However, we are alike in certain areas, so I knew this was a losing battle for me.
"Fine, but you stay by my Mother's side, got it?" she huffed and nodded as we walked out the back door and went behind the trees to shift.
I watched as my Mom's wolf lowered her body so Rachel could climb on, and she held on tight to Mom's fur.
"Alright, everyone, head for the river and meet up with Tobias," I said through the link as everyone howled and we took off toward the river.
After running for about twenty miles, we finally reached the river, where Tobias and a few other trackers and warriors awaited our arrival.
"Alpha," they all bowed as we stopped before them.
We were twenty men in, and according to Tobias, eight scents passed beyond the river and into the forest. Apollo nodded his head in approval for us to cross the shallow river. Tobias and the warriors went first, with me in the middle with Carlito and Julio, while my Father, Mother, Rachel, and a few warriors flanked behind.
Once we crossed the river on the other side, I felt a buzzing in my head as a white light burst before my eyes, and I saw the image of a cave and six unknown figures sitting around a fire.
"Apollo, is that them?" I asked my wolf.
"Yes, Ace. Sarah is in the cave with Blake, and those are the six rogues he hired to help him kidnap Sarah," Apollo said as the vision faded and my sight cleared.
"Follow me," I told everyone in the link as they stayed close behind me, and the rogue's stench grew more vigorous.
We quietly moved through the forest and saw what looked like fire lighting up ahead, and we stopped behind some trees. I saw the five rogues gathered around the fire as a sixth came out of a cave and sat with his buddies. Apollo let out a low growl as the rogues searched through Sarah's and Elizabeth's belongings stolen from the cottage.
"Ace," I heard Rachel whisper as she and my Mother came and stood beside us.
"Alpha, how do you want to proceed?" Tobias's said in the mind link.
"There's only six, with Blake as the seventh and Sarah as the hostage."
"We can take them and rescue Sarah," I said as everyone nodded in agreement.
"So, sneak attack or just charge in?" I heard Carlito's voice and shook my head. He was always ready to fight and kill his enemy with no mercy.
"Charge in because they won't be expecting us, and this will give us the advantage for Blake to surrender and hand over Sarah," I told the group, and everyone nodded in agreement.
Once everyone was in position, I signaled as we charged at the group and surrounded them. The sixth guy saw us and quickly ran inside the cave.
"Good," I thought. Let him come out and face the consequences.