Chapter 8

Chapter 8
Chase’s POV

I had been to hell and back over the last almost six weeks. I found myself falling into the pits of despair, deafened by the sorrowful howls of Onyx. The pain of the rejection repeated as her words played on a loop in my mind. The last full moon became unbearable as I felt not only the pain of the stripping of the outer core of the bond, but also her pain as well. I wanted nothing more than to go to her and soothe the pain she was in. 

That was the first night it happened. I felt a numbing sensation, like a suffocation. Like my connection was submerged underwater or something. And it felt like it was getting worse as each day passed. I didn’t know if it was the bond breaking down, but it felt like I was running up against a block. Or that I was caged. I couldn’t stand the feeling, so I drank. I numbed all the senses, or tried to. 

But no matter how much I drank, the one thing that it could never chase away was shooting pains in my heart. These were infrequent at first, but they were becoming more often. As an Alpha, I could withstand the pain more than others, but the feeling was comparable to the rejection pain all over again. Last night and this morning had been almost too much. I felt like I was being stabbed repeatedly with a red hot poker. It was almost enough to finally accept the loss. 

But almost wasn’t enough and this morning, after I picked myself up from the floor, I wiped the tears from my eyes and uttered the same words that I have said every single day for the last six weeks.

“Kaeleigh Buckley, I do not accept your rejection.” I could swear that I felt the bond burn that little bit brighter each time I said it, and I pleaded to the moon goddess that I would see my mate again.

Only now things were different. Two days ago, I became the Alpha of the Dark Moon pack. And that changed everything. The moment the vow snapped into place, I felt the connection to all three hundred and twenty-seven pack members. I could no longer break down and wallow in my own pit of despair. I had my pack, my family, to protect and care for. That brought everything into a sharper focus for me. And instead of celebrating my new status with my pack, me and a select number of pack members were upstairs in the Alpha quarters going over the plans to rescue the one person the pack needed most, because if she was anyone’s Luna, it was ours! 



Two days ago

“The slimy prick?” I growled. “He’s doing what?” I had just found out about Jensen’s informant and the sorcerer that was working some sort of spell on Kaeleigh. It took everything in me not to Alpha command every warrior we had to go there now and pull Kaeleigh out after I personally twisted that little shit Asher’s head off. 

“How long have you known about this?” I demanded from Jensen, who was looking uncomfortable.

“Erm.. About two weeks.” He gave me a weak, sad smile.

“TWO WEEKS!” I roared. “He has been manipulating my mate for two weeks and we are still sitting here on our thumbs? What exactly have you been doing, Beta?” Jensen suddenly looked annoyed. 

“Actually Alpha!” he really put the emphasis on the word Alpha. “No, we haven’t been sitting around doing nothing. We have been gathering intel and planning a workable rescue attempt, while you have been the one that was lying around in a self-loathing rage.” He stood, pointing at all the charts on the wall. “While you have been ripping apart furniture or being reckless in enemy territory, I have been running this pack. I’ve been picking up your slack and making excuses for your sorry ass self.” I dipped my head and took his anger. I deserved it. I tried to pull rank when I had done nothing to earn that rank.

“Not to mention I was the one leading the mission to catch your idiot wolf self and look after you. All while trying to explain to our people why they should risk their own lives on a rescue mission where they are massively outnumbered.”

I looked up at him in shock. 

“Why would they need convincing? This is their Luna.” 

“Is she?” my dad spoke from across the table. I glared at him.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I snapped.

“She renounced the pack, Chase,” he replied. “I felt her break the link.”

“But she only did it to save us,” I growled.

Meagan sighed “We know that” she said sadly “but unfortunately the warriors and their families don’t.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“I hate to admit it,” Zoey added, “but right now Kaeleigh is just as much, if not more, of a traitor as the other thousand odd people who left us.”

“No, it’s bullshit!” I exclaimed.

“The people don’t know about the curse, son,” my dad said. 

“I don’t care,” I growled. “She is their Luna, and she needs to be rescued.”

“What if she doesn’t want to be rescued?” Jensen asked with pain in his face. “Kaeleigh didn’t just reject you, she rejected all of us,” he said. “They have no reason to die for someone who abandoned them and joined a rival pack.” I closed my eyes because I knew he was right. I took a deep breath. 

“Then we tell them,” I looked round at the shocked faces round the room, “It’s time we come clean with the pack.” 

“Chase,” my dad said. “Do you really think now is the right time?” 

“We need to be strategic about this,” Alrik said. I knew they were right. But I needed my warriors, otherwise we really didn’t stand a chance.

“We’ll talk to them again,” Kierra said. “I’ll make them understand.” 

“And we will tell them when the time is better,” Jensen said sadly.



Present Day

I sat in the Alpha’s office, in the Alpha’s chair, because I was the Alpha now. I kept having to repeat it to myself, despite being raised and trained to be the next alpha. Actually, doing it was way more of an experience. 

I sat behind my desk while Jensen, the only other person in the room, took a call. I looked down at our amended plans and groaned. We had only managed to convince ten warriors to join the mission tomorrow. I still wanted to tell the truth regarding what Kaeleigh did and why. But I knew that it really wasn’t the time.

“Okay, just calm down,” Jensen said into the phone. He glanced at me before continuing to talk into the phone. “Okay, what was so important?” He listened for a few moments before his eyes opened in shock. “Okay man, I need you to tell this to Chase, yeah, yeah I know,” he glanced at me. “But this is too important.” Jensen grimaced at me. 

“There have been some developments.” 

“Kaeleigh?” I was instantly concerned, and he shook his head.

“Just keep an open mind,” he said before clicking the button on his phone that put it on the speaker phone.

“Okay, Chase is on the line. Can you repeat what you just said?” I swore when I heard the familiar voice. 

“I guess it’s only appropriate to congratulate you on your new position.” Jensen’s inside man was Adam!

“Are you fucking joking?” I glared at Jensen. “You are trusting us with this bastard. He’s the reason Kaeleigh is there in the first place.” Jensen winced as my anger was bubbling to the surface.

“Chase, listen to him,” Jensen pleaded.

“Well, technically, you are the reason she is there,” Adam sneered, and I growled.

“For fuck’s sake, Adam, stop winding him up and tell him what you just told me.”

“Tell me what?” I snapped. Adam sighed. 

“I found out the details of the spell on Kaeleigh and what it is meant to be doing.”

“Fine, what?” I asked.

“He’s creating a fake mate bond,” he actually sounded sad when he told me.

“What!” I exclaimed. “She isn’t falling for it, is she?” The silence on the other end of the phone confirmed his answer. Suddenly I understood what the caged feeling I was getting. That bloody sorcerer was also splitting our connection. 

“Listen man,” Adam said “I don’t like you, and you don’t like me, but we both love Kaeleigh and want what’s best for her. And right now, she is not safe where she is. She is slipping and I am genuinely concerned.” I was fuming with anger and concern. 

“Jensen,” I said. 

“Yup,” he responded.

“Call a pack meeting now. We are coming clean about the curse.” 

“Chase?” Jensen’s tone was careful.

“That’s a command,” I said, and he nodded before heading out of the room. We will tell the pack exactly who they are willing to let go. 

“And you,” I said into the phone, “If you betray us, or double cross us in any way, I will have your fucking head mounted on my wall,” I snarled. “Stay with her, don’t let him anywhere near her,”

“You aren’t my Alpha,” he said coldly, and I growled. “But she will always be my Queen, so I will do my best to ensure she is safe.” I nodded and hung up the phone. That was the best I could get from him.

Jensen came back into the room. 

“Thirty minutes Alpha,” he looked uneasy. “Fuck man, I hope you know what you are doing.” I took a deep breath, sighing it out.

“Yeah man, so do I,” and I sent a silent prayer for a blessing from the Moon Goddess.