Chapter 14

Chapter 14
Chase’s POV

I leaned against the wall outside the room that I have just left my mate behind in, and I gripped my chest as pain and despair washes over me. I knew it wasn’t mine, and even though I couldn’t actually hear anything other than this damn alarm. I was subjected to images of Kaeleigh collapsing to the floor in floods of tears. 

I wanted more than anything to go in and sweep her up and carry her out of this awful place, to take her home and live our happily ever after, or even miserable ever after. I didn’t care much as long as it was with her by my side. But something she said hit me hard. A specific combination of events at the exact right time. I had heard those words before, a few months back, when Jensen and I visited Isabella at Beaumont Academy. Isabella was explaining the complicated workings of the curse. She had said how even being there could have been an unlocking moment. Since then we had found out that Isabella’s father was the sorcerer that was playing with Kaeleigh’s mind.

So when Kaeleigh’s wolf tells her the exact same words that Isabella said, I was going to listen. The idea of that filthy good-for-nothing mutt Asher would lay his hands on my mate sent me to boiling point. But in the same visit to Isabella, her daughter Celeste, who saw visions in mirrors, saw me as the Hybrid King. And that could only happen if my Kaeleigh was with me. So I was going to listen, and trust that the moon goddess has our best interests in her playing with our fates.

I pulled myself away from the wall and headed down the hallway away from the doors that separate me from my love. I sent a mind link out to Jensen to get an update. He responded pretty quickly.

“Fuck dude,” he linked and I could sense the stress. “Tell me you guys are on your way out.”

“I’m on my own,” I linked back. “I’ll explain later, but now what is our position?” I had already made it down three flights of stairs and all was deserted.

“We are mostly back behind the territory line. We got injuries, but no reported deaths. I have our alpha team waiting for your word to come and escort you out.” I shook my head, despite knowing he couldn’t see it. 

“No, pull back, I can extract myself,” I burst out of the pack house. “I’ll meet you at the-” I was interrupted by a weight knocking me off my feet.

I went rolling across the concrete and smashed into a wall with force. 

“Fuck!” I exclaimed and dodged out of the way before a blond wolf smashed into the wall where I was. I jumped up into a defensive stance and saw a figure leaning against the doorway to the pack house. I already knew who it was. I recognised his stench from smelling it on Kaeleigh just now. I curled my lips and snarled at him. Asher stepped forward into the light. 

“Now, now, Chase,” he smirked, “surely you weren’t planning on visiting and not saying hello.” He placed his hand on his chest in an over dramatic fashion. “That really hurts my feelings.” I growled at him while keeping an eye on the blond wolf that was attempting to circle behind me. Then I saw another two wolves creep out from the woods. I could tell they were attempting to box me. Asher pretended to look around. 

“You look to be all alone there, Alpha,” he smirked again. “I’m glad to see that you are leaving without anything that belongs to me.” 

“Kaeleigh is mine,” I growled. 

“Strange, and yet she sleeps in my arms at night.” Onyx roared in my head and I clenched my fists to stop myself from attacking him. I knew he was goading me into attacking, and I knew I was outnumbered. He sauntered towards me, the grin on his face growing.

“And it will be me that her legs will wrap around, and it’ll be my name that she screams as I sink my canines into her smooth white skin and claim her as mine for all time.” He was standing within arm’s distance with a smarmy grin on his face. “I wonder Chase,” he stepped forward, so he was almost nose to nose. “Who does she really belong to?”

My body tensed as I prepared to launch at him when there was another voice. 

“Asher, enough!” I looked up to see Kaeleigh standing in the doorway. Adam was just behind her along with another thug of a looking man. She met my eyes and smiled sadly, and then her eyes shifted back to the man in front of me.

“You hurt Chase, and our deal is off.” Asher growled, obviously not liking Kaeleigh showing him up in front of his men, but then he grinned again. He took a step back, but the surrounding wolves remained unmoved.

He kept his eyes on me when he said. 

“First my queen.” He held out a hand. “Come to me.” I glanced up at Kaeleigh and she glared at the back of his head. “Now sweetheart,” his tone was dangerous, and I saw his wolf flit behind his eyes. Kaeleigh blew out a sigh and walked slowly down the steps and over towards us. I watched her as she got closer until she looked at Asher’s hand before putting hers in his. He tightened his grip on it and yanked her into him. Grinning at me one more time before looking down at her. He lifted her chin, so she was looking directly at him.

“Mine,” he whispered, and I growled. His eyes flickered to me before he nodded and I felt hands on my arms and looked to see two goons with firm grips on me. Asher smirked before leaning into Kaeleigh’s mouth and began kissing her. I lost my shit and snarled and tried to pull away from the goons. They held me tight as Asher pulled Kaeleigh into him. His hands travelled down her back, and I held on to every ounce of control within me to not let Onyx out. 

The thug looking guy walked over and said in a thick Irish accent. 

“I think he gets the point now, Ash,” he glanced at me and looked uncomfortable. “Let the poor girl go.” He then turned to the men at my side. “Escort Alpha Stone to the border, please.” And with a grunt, the two goons dragged me away from the house and down a wood path. 

They push and shove me the whole way down the path all the way to the borderline, where I saw Jensen and Meagan standing watching us with concern. I got one last shove across the border and the goons turned and walked away without a word.

“Dude,” Jensen said, “I was getting ready to come in and kick some ass.” I grimaced at him. “Let’s go.” I couldn’t get the image of that bastard’s hands on Kaeleigh. 

“Wait, where’s Kaeleigh?” Meagan asked, and I shook my head.

“She’s not coming,” I said and climbed into the SUV. Meagan climbed in the back next to Kierra and I saw them exchange a look in the rear-view mirror. 

“I’ll explain later,” I said to them, and Jensen climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine. 

“We need to look over everything Isabella sent,” I said to him, “and maybe speak to Elaina as well.” Elaina was a witch, so maybe she understood what Kaeleigh was talking about with paths and stuff. 

We all sat in silence as Jensen drove us back home and I pushed against the pain that Kaeleigh wasn’t sitting in the car with us. I thought back to my conversation with Zoey last night and hated myself even more that she wouldn’t get to see her best friend yet. 

Wait! Zoey, she had come in the car with us. I glanced into the back seat, a bad feeling already settling into my stomach.

“Where’s Zoey?” I asked, and Meagan looked blank, but Kierra responded. 

“We got split up, and she linked to say she had found some of our guys and would get a ride back with them,” I nodded. 

“Okay,” I said, but the feeling was still there.

“Meagan?” I called 

“Yes Alpha?” 

“Do a roll call, please.” 

“Now?” I glanced in the rear-view mirror and she had a concerned look on her face.

“Yes now,” I said, and she nodded and her eyes glazed over as she linked through to each car to confirm attendance. As time went on, I started getting more anxious. I could see from the looks on their faces that so did the others.

We were pulling into the gates when Meagan’s eyes cleared up and I turned and looked at her and she shook her head, tears in her eyes.

“Confirmed, Alpha,” she said, taking a deep breath. “Three warriors unaccounted for. Two from Sunset Rose and one from Dark Moon.” 

“Zoey?” I asked, and she shook her head. 

We pulled to a stop outside the main pack house and I climbed out and headed to one of the other SUVs. I was met halfway by Dominic, who had jumped out before the car had stopped.

“What’s the status?” he asked. I relayed the information and was finishing just as Matthew Chaney, Zoey’s father, came running up. 

“Matthew, we are-” I started, but he interrupted.

“I want to go back,” he said. “I know she’s a warrior, and with that comes risks, but she’s still my little girl.” I held back the lump in my throat. “Please Alpha,” he pleaded.

“No,” Meagan replied, and I looked at her in shock. “Mr Chaney, your wife needs you, and you are two emotionally attached.” I was stunned by her response, but I nodded in agreement. 

“I will arrange for some scouts,” she said to me and I nodded again

“Coordinate with Dominic,” and she nodded and she and Dominic headed off to arrange the scout mission.



(Ten hours later)

I was sitting in my office with Jensen, Zack, Meagan, Dominic and Matthew, and Penelope Chaney. We were expecting the scouts back at any moment. They opted for travel in wolf form for discrete measures. So we had to wait until they were on pack territory until they could mind link. The room was silent.

Then I heard the buzz of the mindlink request and saw Meagan’s eyes glaze as mine do. We received the report from the scouts and I could feel every pair of eyes in the room on me. I felt my stomach turn as my eyes cleared and I came back to the room. 

“The two Sunset Rose warriors were found. They had been ambushed and stripped of their clothes. They were left for dead in the woods just outside the northern border. They were injured but were able to shift to make the journey back.” I reported back to Dominic mostly as it was his warriors. He nodded in response.

“What about Zoey?” Matthew asked, and I looked at Meagan, who had tears in her eyes. I dragged my eyes up and met Matthew’s. His face crumpled before I even said anything. He already knew from my face.

“The body of a woman in Dark Moon uniform, matching the description of Zoey Chaney, was found thirty yards off from the two men.” Penelope Chaney screamed and collapsed into her husband in tears.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered as she sobbed loudly for her daughter.