The beeping of a machine has been my constant friend these past days. Day and night I've watched my mate sleeping. The doctors have tried everything from modern medicine to mixed herbs to wake her but nothing has worked.
I moved her from the pack hospital to the pack house, so she's closer to me when I'm working. I thought the closer she is to me would help bring her back. Even tried to use Alexi to communicate with her wolf but even she's asleep he says.
Stop worrying. She has a strong spirit. I can at least feel that Alexi said.
I know. I'm just-
Nervous. We've waited this long to find her and now she's here and we still have to wait, Alexi said.
The fates seem to have it out for us huh buddy.
I looked down at our mate. Most of her bruises were healed by now. There were scars all over her arms being covered by her tattoos. They might seem unsightly to some but to me she was the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I moved her red hair from out of her eyes and admired the piercings she had in her nose and eyebrow. From the moment I saw her I could tell she was a tough woman. A woman that I knew I needed.
I still can't believe she's a witch. Of all things the Goddess could pair me with, she chose a witch.
Doesn't matter. We have her and we're not letting her go, Alexi said, reading my thoughts.
Of course. I'm just worried that she'll be like-
She won't, Alexi cut me off. Not all witches are evil, Zack. Leia taught us that.
Leia, my stepmother, Alaia's mother, was the reason I changed my mind about witches. She was lovely and treated me like her real son, even when I made it hard for her. She taught Alaia the right way to use her powers for good and how to tame the darkness her powers came with. She was a wonderful mother, Luna, and witch. I wish she was here. She would know how to fix all of this.
Someone cleared their throat and I turned to see Emily standing in the doorway. I could tell she's been crying lately from the puffiness of her eyes. Not many people know who Mirja is to me but the moment I told Bronx, it wasn't long before Emily found out.
"Sorry to bother you, Alpha. Just doing the daily routine," she said, walking by me to the machines hooked up to Mirja.
"Of course."
The silence between us was deafening. Only the beeping of the machines and the scratching of a pen on paper could only be heard. I hated the thought of hurting Emily. She didn't deserve whatever I did to her though I never said we were exclusive. Still…
"Emily, um…I want you to know I never-"
She held up her hand to stop me. "Alpha, please. My tears are not because of you. I'm actually happy you've found your mate. Truly. I'm just…" She paused as if she was thinking of what to say. "I'm just wondering when my turn will be. That's all."
I understood exactly what she was going through. I was about to miss my chance of meeting my mate if things had been different with Isabella. Heck I would've probably been in the same situation as Alpha Isaiah. I walked up to Emily and pulled her into a hug. A second later we both heard a small growl and turned towards Mirja.
"Did you hear that too," I asked as Emily stepped away towards the machine.
I sat down best Mirja and grabbed her hand. Her face was unchanged and still I felt nothing from her
"That's a good sign, Alpha. She's still with us if she can feel you," Emily said as she touched my shoulders causing Mirja to growl again.
It was small but it was more than I could ask for. My little jealous mate could feel someone else touching me. Feeling was good but I wanted more. I needed to hear her voice and see her eyes. I kissed her hand to calm her and I looked at the bottle of liquor she asked me for. Not my style but I would do anything to make her happy. She's been through enough. Before I could settle for the night Bronx burst through the rooms out of breath.
“Rogues!”
I was confused. I couldn't smell the rogues and my border patrol hadn't contacted me. I turned to look at Mirja.
“Don’t worry go. I’ll keep her safe,” Emily said.
Before I could say anything else Bronx left the room and I followed. We made it outside just when the first explosion happened near the south border.
“That was the dungeons,” Bronx said, running behind me.
The two guards in front were knocked out. With Bronx’s help we pulled them away from the flames. I directed some of my pack members to help kill some of the flames before it spread. I contacted my patrols and no one sensed any rogues or knew how they got in.
Alpha, the women and children are secured in the packhouse Bronx linked me.
Before I could reply another explosion was set off. This time it was the pack’s hospital.
“How are they getting around with no one noticing,”Bronx asked. “It’s like-”
“Magic,” I said, thinking back to when I fought the rogue that disappeared in thin air.
Everyone stay alert. We might be dealing with rogues and witches I linked everyone as I made my way towards the hospital.
“These targets are specific,” I thought out loud.
“They’re targeting someone but who,” asked Bronx.
.
Who would be in the dungeons or the hospital I thought to myself. Then it hit me. There was only one person who was supposed to be in the dungeons but actually went to the pack’s hospital before moving her to the pack house. SHIT!
I ordered some men to help with the fire at the pack hospital while I ran as fast as I could back to the pack house. I was almost there when I was stopped in my tracks. Blocking my way was none other than the rogue’s leader himself.
“Where are you going in such a hurry,” Nas asked with a few rogues at his back.
It may have looked intimidating but a few of my men surrounded his group. He was severely outnumbered yet he kept a cool expression on his face.
Be ready and alert. He might have a few tricks up his sleeve I linked my men.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see more rogues moving from the forest lines. Where the hell did he get this many?
“Leave now or your men die,” I growled.
Nas glared at me taking a few steps towards me. “Did you give Frank the same option before you stabbed him?”
What the hell was talking about? Who the hell is Frank?
“I don't know what you’re talking about,” I said.
“Right, because we’re just rogues with no names or feelings. We’re just fodders to people like you. Well Frank was a good one and you took him away from us. So now it’s our turn to take from you,” Nas said, pointing to the pack house.
As soon as he did, another explosion blew up the top part of the pack house. My heart literally stopped as I knew Mirja was still there and since they had a witch on their side my men didn’t stand a chance. It was the only moment I paused until Alexi took over and charged Nas. His men shifted and blocked my advance while Nas took something from his pockets and threw it on the ground. Right before my eyes he disappeared.
Two rogues charged me and we all tumbled around in the dirt. I used my hind legs to knock one away and grabbed another by its neck, snapping it in the process. I threw the dead rogue aside and turned towards the pack house. A few more rogues stood ground right in my way. This was going to be tougher than I thought.
That’s when I heard a howl and saw two fireballs hit two of the rogues in the way. The last rogue looked around before a ball of dark blue fur pounced on it. They tousled a bit before the blue wolf gained the upper hand and ripped the rogue’s throat. The blue wolf moved towards me and two men floated to his side. It was the first during this battle I actually smiled. He sure knew how to make an entrance.