RELIEF

STACY

I sleep peacefully for the remaining hours and now that morning is finally here, Maurice and I take a shower together and we dress up for the day. After we're done, we head to the kitchen and we have our breakfast together with the rest.

Later, everyone gathers at the conference room.

I'm honestly still sleepy when Bruno starts talking, but what takes my attention and wakes me up is when he starts talking about how many Packs have been destroyed by our enemies.

“In total, sixteen Packs have been destroyed in the last eight months.” He ends grimly.

Sixteen Packs?

My breath stops and my heart falls just thinking about the people who've lost their homes in the process, their families and friends and most importantly the bond that they had with their Packs.

Thinking about the sixteen affected Packs who have lost everything, I start feeling a mix of anger and compassion. However, I think I feel more frustrated than anything else.

I feel like there's nothing I can do. I want to help them, but how?

My hand instinctively touches my stomach and I feel guilty for being pregnant.

Am I really going to be useless at such an important time like this? I'm a warrior yet I can't even help these people out?

My thoughts drown the voices around me, all there is is that accusing voice that I can not do anything for people who are in need right now.

All of a sudden, Maurice holds my hand under the table. The electrifying touch shocks me and I immediately look towards him.

He looks at me with concern as if he knows what I'm thinking about and then shakes his head gently. I feel even more guilty and ashamed of my thoughts so I brush his hand away and look away, a heavy feeling still sitting on my chest.

“The fourth warrior is my mate?" I hear Bernard mutter. I turn my eyes towards him instead of my concerned mate who is burning my back with his stare.

“Well, it's just an assumption.” Sherry clears out.

“Our Packs are the oldest Packs there are and the strongest of our territories. Silver Winds has the first warrior, the Western Pack with the second warrior, The eastern pack with the third warrior and your Pack as well. All the more, your Pack has elders who can foresee the future, even if it's rare.” Joseph says.

Bernard takes a deep breath and exhales tiredly.

“Uhm... sure, there is a problem though.” He starts. We wait as he continues the story and feeling the pressuring eyes around him, he decides to speak.

“Well, you know that at the age of twenty, if the Alpha, in our Pack hasn't found their mate yet, they will have to go search for them in other Packs right? So I've already travelled to a lot of Packs for two years, but I've had no luck. No trace anywhere. All I have are dreams of her, but there are no clear indications as where she could be.” He explains and looks towards me.

Right, that event earlier this morning. Mmmh.

“What if she's a rogue too?” Rose asks, sympathising with her brother.

“Maybe, but when I briefly caught her scent, it didn't belong to a rogue. And the legends book described her as lost, I'm not sure what that really means though.” I answer with a pout.

To be honest, I absolutely have no clues leading to the fourth Warrior and just trying to decipher the weird archaic writings is making my head hurt.

We all stay quiet for a moment, trying to think of a solution.

“Well, it can't be helped. Until we have an idea of where she may be, we still have to continue our quest on how to stop the stray wolves and who is behind all of these.” Sherry says as she puts her head back the swivel chair and looks up at the ceiling.

“I agree and I think that we can follow the plan that we made yesterday.” Maurice says.

The three other Alphas nod and I can only squint my eyes at them. They notice and Joseph only smiles apologetically at me.

“Well, the plan is that while Bernard will be concentrating on finding his mate and helping Packs that are getting attacked by the stray wolves, Dark Woods will also be helping out Packs that are under threat of getting attacked. Bruno's and my Pack will concentrate on finding who may be pulling the strings behind all the small fish.” Joseph explains simply.

I sigh and think about their plan.

“If that's the best thing we can do for now, I don't object. Our main goal is finding Ephy and find out who is giving innocent humans drugs and turning them to crazy rogues.” I agree.

“Is anyone ever going to mention the Council?” Bernard intervenes, making all of us to exchange uncomfortable looks between each other. Everyone notices the hostility he had when he mentioned the group of people.

Yes, at some point, we all have had our suspicions about the Council, but we have no concrete proof of their involvement.

“Joseph and Bruno will deal with them because if you and I both approach it, they will get suspicious of us.” Maurice says beside me.

I observe as Bernard's eyes fall on Rose's, his fist clenching but he holds his anger off.

The meeting goes by on what the territories that each of us would be covering, the Packs that need extra help right now and all sorts of matters.

Again, I space out, my mind searching for a way to help even with my dangerous pregnancy.

Without noticing it, the meeting is adjourned and everyone is standing up to leave, which reminds me, Maurice and I would be leaving in a couple of hours.

Bruno and Sherry decide to stay for another night and wait for their other comrades from our Pack to pick them from Joseph's Pack instead.

Maurice puts his arm around me as we start walking back to our room when Sherry grabs my arm also. We turn around and see both Sherry and Rose smiling at me.

“We'll borrow her for a while before you guys leave, Alpha.” She says while smiling and it isn't like Maurice would object.

“Not a problem, just make sure she doesn't get too tired.” Maurice instructs and leaves me with a kiss on my forehead. At that gesture, Sherry makes a disgusted face which makes Rose and I to laugh.

I follow the two girls as we go to the backyard of the Pack House and we sit at some of the chairs placed there. From where we're sitting, I see a group of kids running around playing a hide and seek game.

Sherry insists that we wait for the food that is about to be brought before we start whatever discussion she has in mind.

It doesn't take long before the Pack helpers put down the food at the table in front of the chairs. It amazes me how Sherry is close even with this Pack's helpers. I mean, she has been coming here ever since she was a child.

*****

“Well, we noticed that you were feeling worried about the situation.” Sherry starts.

“You're probably upset thinking that there's not much you can do.” Rose adds.

I'm startled... Had my emotions been so unguarded that they were able to find out about my inner conflicts?

Sherry sits closer beside me and puts her hand on my stomach and smiles.

“And we just want you to know that you've done great so far. If it weren't for you, we all wouldn't even be here, we'd still be ignorant about who we are and our mission. So just rest up until your baby is born.” Sherry says.

To my surprise, Rose, who is definitely not a sentimental person, sits closer to me also and lightly holds onto my dress. “You've had a hard time alone, we'll do our part now.”

My heart warms up and my lips can't help but tug into a smile.

Ah, really. What was I thinking?

Of course, everything will be perfectly fine! After all, I'm no longer alone. I have Maurice, the warriors and everyone else around me, especially the four strongest Pack leaders.

I feel so grateful to them because of their words. Their words are like an antidote to the growing poison of guilt inside me that I shouldn't even feel in the first place.

I'm quite relieved knowing that I have people who care about me and my unborn baby's welfare.