Dylan
"Anything?" I asked expectantly as Bert came back, shaking head at me.
"No. I didn't find Fern in the western part of Whitemoon either." Bert whined in frustration.
After quite a few hours' search, Bert and I just couldn't get any close to Whitemoon, not to mention Fern.
"It's time we declare a war against Whitemoon." I finally made up my mind.
"Bless us, Nuu-Chah. Bless Starsmoon.” Bert muttered a prayer before he looked back at me. “I've mind linked Jason. He'll soon meet us here, together with Starsmoon's strongest warriors.”
*********
Confusion sipped through me as I gazed around, only to find the same look on the faces of the warriors standing behind me.
"It's really weird. I've been to Whitemoon a couple of times. This is the very place where the gate to Whitemoon used to stand. How come it's nothing but tall trees now? What did just happened?"
Bewildered, Jason took a step foward when his body got thrown off after clashing against a magnetic force.
Mikael rushed over to help Jason up, who looked much weaker than just seconds ago.
“Stay still, everyone!" I ordered my shifters loudly. “Whitemoon Pack is hiding itself behind this protective barrier. You could get hurt or even killed by it if not strong enough.”
With that, I reached out my hand to touch the barrier.
“Dylan!” Bert gasped in astonishment when my hand passed through the barrier without getting hurt.
“I could be the only one this barrier is letting in.” I let out a sigh of relief.
“Is it because of your Alpha blood?” Jason inquired.
“Probably. I'm passing through this barrier. You wait for Fern and me back here.”
“Dylan! It could cost your life...” Bert tried to stop me as I was about to dash forward.
“My life matters nothing when my daughter is waiting for my rescue."
The next minute, I found Alpha Hugo standing in front of me, smirking. Shock sipped through my system.
“I commend your bravery, Alpha Dylan.” He clapped his hands.
“Where is my daughter...ahh!” Pain struck throughout me, crawling from my head down to my toe.
“Hahahaha!" Hugo's laugh was piercing. "You know what? With the Alpha's blood, you could be strong enough to pass through my barrier. But it has drained the last bit of your strength. You won't be able to fight even the weakest warrior in my pack.”
Within a blink of an eye, I got kicked out of the barrier by Hugo.
Back in Lune's pack house.
“Dylan!” I stumbled into Cherry's arms after getting out of the car.
"What just happened?!" Cherry sounded worried.
"We couldn't make it into Whitemoon's territory. It's protected behind a protective barrier." Bert explained anxiously. "Dylan's the only one who can pass through it, but it exhausted the last bit of his strength."
“Cherry, you're the only one who can help Fern out." Bill spoke after hearing Bert out.
"Huh?" Cherry looked confused as she turned to look at Bill.
"Remember I told you that you're blessed with special abilities and that you'll make your mate an invincible Alpha? It's time to show Nuu-Chah's blessing."
"What do you mean?" Cherry was still clueless.
"I mean it's time you take Dylan back as your mate, and you two fight together against Whitemoon." I could tell Bill was having a hard time in making this decision.
"But..." Cherry intended to retort but got interuppted.
"There's no but here, Cherry. Fern's waiting for you." Bill was insistent, giving a bitter yet assuring smile to Cherry. "Remember, you're doing this for Fern. And for the pack where you were born and raised."
"Thank you!" Deeply touched, Cherry gave Bill a big hug.
“Are you ready to take me back as your mate?” She then turned to me and asked, to which I nodded immediately.
"Cherry, I, Dylan, Alpha of Starsmoon Pack, swear to nourish and protect you, our family, and our pack with everything that I'm. My wolf and my heart belong to you, my mate, my Luna, completely."
I meant every word of this vow, just like when I said it last time at our mating ceremony.
*********
Cherry
At the border of the Whitemoon pack.
Standing side by side at Whitemoon's gate, Dylan and I joined Jason and our warriors.
Our eyes found each other as I swallowed hard and reached for Dylan's hand.
“What if Bill is wrong? What if both of you end up getting hurt by that barrier?” Bert uttered nervously.
“It's worth taking this risk when Fern's at stake. The longer she's with Chelsea, the greater danger she'd be exposed to.” I said to Bert, and to myself.
“Nuu-Chah, please keep my pup safe.”
With that, I breathed out. Together, Dylan and I reached for the barrier. A streak of light blasted at the spot where we tapped, until the whole barrier collapsed.
The impact was so strong that it knocked all Starsmoon's warriors into the air before their bodies fell back hard onto the ground.
“Cherry?” Dylan sighed out of relief after he was done sizing me up and saw no injury on my body.
Eyes roaming around, I found that even Bert was wincing in pain as he got up from the fall.
Everyone was scatted except for me… and Dylan.
“Bill was right. We're invincible together!” Dylan exclaimed, looking into my eyes.
“Yes, and we'll sure get Fern back this time!” His words reminded me why we were here.
“Be safe, Cherry.” Dylan cut the small gap between us and kissed my forehead before we went separate ways.
"I will."
After giving him an assuring nod, I embarked on the journey to look for Fern, while Dylan went to take Chelsea's head back.