Early the next morning, they got up and prepared for their trip.
Lisa felt really anxious and it was understandable.
Lisa had tried severally to communicate with her boy, but he had blocked them out completely and neither her nor Adam could mind link him. It was frustrating for the both of them and she was sure she deserved it.
She had no idea how she was going to make things right with Alex. She only hoped things would get better with time.
"Are you ready?" Adam asked Lisa as she stood by the door, staring into space, lost in a void her mind had created.
She rubbed her clammy palms on her thighs which was under a simple black gown which she looked elegant in.
"Yes, I'm all set," she replied, walking briskly to their awaiting carriage.
Adam had informed Hendrix of their arrival and told him not to disclose the information to Alex because he feared he'd get uncomfortable and disappointed.
Adam knew pretty well that his son felt more at peace with them gone and he understood him.
If he had been treated like Alex was as a child, he didn't know how he would have been now. The boy had always been braver and stronger than he had and could ever be. He had taken over the affairs of the state since he was eighteen and had done great things for the pack.
Things Adam could have only dreamt of. Crystal Moon Pack had suddenly skyrocketed from just a mare Western pack to the strongest, richest, and largest pack in the whole land and they had even become the first and only to trade with the humans which had helped grow their economy considerably higher.
He didn't have the young man's confidence but what he did have, was patience and Alex lacked a lot of it.
They quickly mounted their carriage and their escorts took the one behind them. They didn't bring with them a lot of soldiers. Instead, they brought five which was risky, but they were certain they had no enemies.
Lisa watched the road in silence from the carriage's small window. It was blurry from the morning dew and she used her little handkerchief to wipe it clean so she could get a better look at the road.
Adam watched her silently, he wished he could take all her worries away but he couldn't. Instead, he had even somehow managed to add to them in the past. He let his eyes drift to her hands and took the one closest to him in his hand.
Lisa turned her head to view him and forced a smile.
"I know you're worried, Liz," Adam said when he noticed the fake smile on her lips. "There's absolutely no need to pretend when you're with me."
He placed a feathery kiss on her hand and lightly squeezed her hand in assurance.
Lisa swallowed down a lump, feeling lucky. She couldn't for the life of her understand why the moon goddess had blessed her with such a wonderful man as her husband.
She, for the first time that day, took in his appearance and her smile blossomed into a genuine one. He was cladded in long sleeve with his tye roughly knotted. She shook her head and averted her gaze to his fsce. His hair was gelled back and his boxed beard had framed his handsome face. Looking at him made her fall in love all over again.
"You just can never get it right can you?" She teased as she pried her hands from his and adjusted his tye which was unmade.
Adam laughed when he saw the amusement in her eyes.
"It's a good thing I have you then," He winked, making her giggle girlishly.
"It's a good thing you do." She took his hand back in hers as she laid her head on his left shoulder, feeling some of the tension from earlier fade away.
They stayed in that position in silence with his thumb tracing circles around the soft skin of her hand until the carriage halted abruptly.
They hadn't reached Crystal Moon Pack and they weren't even close yet, so why had they stopped.
Adam tapped on the mini glass that connected both the rider and the back seat.
"Why are we stopping, Carl?"
Adam was quick to question the rider.
"I'm not sure your highness but the road seems blocked,"
The rider responded.
Before he could give any instructions, gun shots filled the air and the duo juddered.
The king and queen laid on the floor of the carriage in terror as they listened to the sounds of fire arms and the screams of their escorts.
Adam attempted to go down and handle things himself; even if retired, he was still an Alpha and he could. But Lisa stopped him in fear as they couldn't tell what was actually out there.
"I can't die so easily, Liz." He tried once again when all the noise had stopped.
He was sure they were coming for them. They were still bent in the carriage as they took cover behind chairs and doors.
"I said, stay put."
Liz was beyond listening as she shivered in fear.
Adam couldn't. He wouldn't just sit there and do nothing while they were being ambushed.
He got out of the carriage after jerking his hands forcefully from his mate.
"Adam. Adam, please," Liz begged, trying to reason with him but he was an Alpha and his nature depicted he did something.
She remained in the carriage, scared to her wit for his safety as well as hers as Adam walked admist smoke and dead bodies.
He was furious at how much distraction had been caused but he couldn't see up ahead and he was certain that that was were their ambushers were.
As he made his way a bit closer and could finally decipher figures, an arrow came flying his way.
He caught it easily, something he had in common with Alex.
Such dumb attempt to kill him, who were these dumb creatures?
But before he could toss it to the side of the road, it exploded a green substance all around him.
He shielded his nose with his elbow but he was too late, the foul smell had already wafted its way up his nostrils. He had been played and he fell right into the game.
His vision became blurry and the earth spun under his feet. He staggered, holding his head and all he could think of was Lisa.
"Liz..." The word came out like a strangled whisper as he reached a hand to the carriage.
He swayed, feeling his heart thumping violently against the walls of his chest.
"Li-" he didn't get to finish his sentence because his knees buckled and he fell, getting snatched by the throes of darkness.