Axels POV
We were searching my entire pack territory for the Beta when I doubled over, major cramps forming in my stomach. The feeling of stretching and pulling just as painful as my first ever shift. I didn't know what the pain meant but knew immediately it was to do with the pup inside Vanessa, it was causing her pain and the growing mate bond forced me to feel what she felt. I opened the bond link between us just in time to hear her scream for me before her voice fades away. I tried to force the link to re-connect but nothing, it was as if she just wasn't there anymore. She hadn't blocked me out I would have felt it, the same for if she had been asleep. This was entirely new and there was no doubt my mother was to blame. I had blocked out my bond for Vanessa as best I could which only met someone had forced me to feel this, to feel what was happening. Vanessa had months before the pup would be born so it wasn't their birth I'd felt, and I wouldn't have thought my mother would be torturing her while pregnant, yet these cramps said otherwise. Forcing myself back to my feet I continued to search the deepest part of the forest while Athena and Hector checked the town. My pack seemed to fear me at the moment, so I felt it best I gave them space hence why I'm the one trudging through the mud.
"Axel what happened?" Athena's soft voice was calm as it ventured into my mind. Her voice was like chocolate, smooth and silky.
"You felt that?" I wasn't sure they would have being they weren't bonded to Vanessa, I knew Athena was bonded being her twin but Vanessa closed that link years ago.
"Yes, we felt it. What's going on Axel" and there was Hector, it still felt strange having our three some mate bond, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Where Athena was the calm to my storm, Hector was the waves in my ocean. He was both calm and harsh, not afraid to call me out on my shit when necessary.
"I think it was the pup and Vanessa. I think my mother's hurting her I can't be sure. But the pain it was bad. Have you found the beta?"
"No nothing, he hasn't been home and border patrol said he hasn't left. If Hector is right and he's working with your mum, I'm sorry Axel but I don't think we will find him. We already know them pebbles open portals, so what if he had a few and used them?" Athena was right them pebbles had to have been how he left undetected. My mother's study may have been ransacked but fortunately I remembered my father confiscating a few of her older leather-bound books a few months ago. He had said she would sneak away during the dead of night so one night he followed her, he said she was deep in thought as she read the books so when she fell back asleep, he took them locking them in a safe under the floorboards of his office. Luckily for us only my father and I knew of the safe, though the fact he never told his beta of it made me wonder whether he ever actually trusted him.
Having come to the conclusion searching was pointless we regrouped at the pack house. Due to the alpha suite being destroyed we stayed in one of the guest suites. This conversation wasn't one we could have with the entire pack, not yet anyway. Until we had weaved out anyone else working with my mother, everything needed to stay between the three of us.
"Why don't we just use one of the pebbles? Throw it down and see where's it opens to"
"Hector for someone with a big head it sure is empty" I couldn't help but laugh at him. "The pebbles only open the gateway; we need to know where we want to go for them to take us there dummy" Hector just scowled at me so chuckling I walked over pecking a small kiss onto his pouting lips. Fuck every time I touch him my cock hardens, but I had to push every naughty thought from my mind. This was not the time to do what I wanted to do to him.
"Well, I for one think your both idiots and missing the obvious answer" we both just looked at Athena raising an eyebrow at the fact she called us idiots.
"Excuse me" the tone I used when I spoke was one of pure shock.
"You heard me... idiots both of you" she chuckled as she shook her head at us.
"Ok misses know it all what don't we know?" Hector spoke so sarcastically as he laughed at her, every step towards her he took she took two back a knowing look in her eye as they remained on me.
"Well, 'idiot' the pebbles open where you want to go right? So why not them throw it down and think of your mum. It'll take you right to her. Duh" ok so maybe we really are idiots because that was definitely not something I would have thought of. Walking up to Athena who was not backed up to the foot of the bed, I pushed her backwards and climbed over her pushing my knee between her legs as my lips smashed into hers. I forced my tongue into her mouth tasting every inch as our tongues began to wrestle.
"Um hope we weren't about to interrupt" a loud cough followed by a voice startled me as it didn't belong to any of us. Diverting my eyes to the doorway, there stood Luna Angel and Alpha Jake whose eyes were dark as he stared at me knowing he had just walked in on me about to fuck his daughter.
"You're in trouble now, nice knowing you" Hectors voice swimming in my head while he tried to hold back his laughter, I just growled back in response knowing he was probably right.
"Oh, my goddess mum, dad! What are... what are you doing here" Athena pushed past me and ran to her parents who held her tight her mum shaking as she sobbed into her daughter's neck.
"Alpha Jake, Luna Angel. We er... we weren't expecting you. I'm glad to see your both ok" my eyes darted to Luna Angels wrist her hand small, it looked as though it was regrowing which I had never known to be possible.
"Oh, please Axel drop the formalities we're family now. And sorry for the intrusion when one of the omega's said you guys were in here, we assumed you were looking for someone. Not erm... not that" a small awkward smile appeared onto her face as she tried to re-compose herself. She was clearly embarrassed about how they had just appeared, especially had they arrived a few minutes later then this whole thing would've been much worse. "Why are you in here if you don't mind my asking?"
"That would be my fault. When my father took his life in a bid to end my mother, I lost it. I gave Thor control and burned down the Alpha suite. I didn't want to use my dad's office until I know it hasn't been bugged so here is the best alternative"
"I am sorry for your loss. Losing a parent is difficult I know how hard it is to be forced to step into your new role. Axel if you're feeling like you need help, or anything at all just ask. I assure you it doesn't make you weak to ask for help. It was my mate that showed me how much strength can come from admitting when you're both wrong and struggling. And as Angel said, we're family" Jake's eyes returned to their normal blue before he stood forward, grabbing my hand I thought he was going to shake it, but instead he pulled me into a hug. I had never imagined Jake to have this side to him. He was known as the ruthless Alpha, his temper just as bad as his bite. Yet standing here, talking like this it was hard to imagine him anything like the rumours had stated.
"Mum your hand? Uncle Benson said it had been cut off" Athena too had noticed. Though at the mention of it I didn't miss the look of hurt, guilt and blame on Jakes face. He blamed himself for her suffering, and Alphas meant to protect their Luna with their life, and he couldn't for those that attacked him had managed to best him.
"Your grandfather may be old and turning senile, but he does still have his gifts. One of the perks to being the Alpha king I suppose. And once this is all over there is something else, we will need to discuss. But for now, let's worry about the matters at hand... no pun intended" she chuckled though you could tell by the look in her eyes she was far from happy. Both Angel and Jake blamed themselves, that much was obvious. They had never been caught off guard, forced to submit to anyone else so this, this hit them hard. "We are here to help, and we have the full support of the Moonlight Pack along with the Royal Kingdom when the time comes. I hope you three are ready because a battle is coming, and we will all need to pull together. We need to get Vanessa back and keep her safe until that pup is born. Then we are under order of the council to hand her over for sentencing"