Reid's POV
I watched as she slept, I picked up her limp body. Guilt eating away at me, I could feel Ryder pressing against my skin. Itching to be released. I placed her on our bed, leaning down, I nuzzled into her neck. God, I loved this woman, but damn she infuriated me. I sometimes have to remember she didn't have the childhood she deserved, didn't have the support she craved. I inhaled her scent, Ryder instantly settling down. I placed my hand on her stomach, the slightest bump on her lower abdomen. I could hear the steady heartbeat of the life she was carrying. I knew Aria would be a great mother, I can't grasp why she would doubt her ability. Aria always puts her life second to Lily, no matter the consequences. I know she will be protective of our pup. I would lay my life down for all three of them. Lily was as much hers as she was David's, their bond was unbreakable. I know Aria feared that I made the wrong choice, but I know she will come around. I can sense the change in David, the bitterness of the loss of his mate now leaving, and his love slowly being given to Lily where it should have gone in the first place. I was envious of the bond they had formed in the last couple of weeks.
How he was able to pull himself from whatever dark place he was in. My father was not so lucky, he couldn't live without my mother, not even for me. I brushed her hair out of her face and tucked the blanket around her. I heard the front door; I knew instantly it was Zane. What I didn't understand was why he was here. Something must have happened, for him to barge in when he was under strict orders to steer clear. I raced downstairs, Zane's appearance was dishevelled his clothes torn and barely staying on him. "What's happened?"
Zane tried to catch his breath, his hands on his knees while he was bent over. I mind linked him, knowing he was too out of breath to talk.
"Zane?"
"They attacked, there were too many of them. They took them, oh god Reid, they took her."
Panic coursed through my veins, my body tensing. I glanced up the stairs, knowing Aria was up there sleeping, unaware of the shit storm that just blew in. The timing couldn't be worse.
"Took who? Who took them?"
"My mate, oh god they took Christine. They had tranquilisers, we couldn't do anything. They took Christine and Wendy."
"What about Amber?"
"She is fine. Mitch ran with her taking her to the Black Moon Pack, she is with Lily" I felt instant relief knowing, the kids were at least safe.
"What happened?" I was already moving, my fingers moving a hundred miles an hour, texting the entire Pack to meet.
"The Hunters. They want Aria, Reid. They said they will kill them if we don't hand her over. They were watching the house as soon as we got inside the entire property was surrounded, they kicked the doors in and let off Wolfsbane grenades. Mitch grabbed Amber when I told them to run, but I couldn't stop them, I tried. I fucking Tried. But I WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH!" his voice screaming in my head. His anger boiling over, before crushing him. He was dying inside with guilt, dying with the thought of what they could possibly be doing with his mate.
"This isn't your fault we will get them back, Zane. I won't let them hurt your mate or Wendy."
Zane nodded, putting his complete faith in me. Ryder was hackled up in my head growling. "I am going to fucking slaughter the lot them" His growl ripping out of me before I felt the shift take over. I didn't fight it, I let him out. His instincts were to kill and take back what belonged to us. They were part of my Pack, and nobody fucking takes from me. Not unless they have a death wish. I looked up the stairs. I have to protect them, I will not let anyone touch what's mine.
"Go to the Black Moon Pack, take Aria with you. Warn them. Tell them to get ready, we are about to go to war." I took off knowing Zane would get Aria out of here and to safety. I have complete trust in him. He feels like he failed them, but I know he would have fought until his last breath if given the chance. I know if he did, they would have killed him.
Aria's POV
I woke to Lily and Amber crying, my instincts going on high alert. I grabbed them, hugging them to me before glancing around, looking for the threat they fear. I didn't recognise my surroundings, why were they here? Reid said they were staying away for the night. I push trying to feel for Reid, but I get nothing, he is blocking me out. The girls are hysterical. I try soothing them enough to get them to speak. I look around. I am in some sort of bunker, getting up. I peer around and huddled on the ground are hundreds of women and children. Fear consumes, what is going on?
I walk over to a woman, trying to figure out what the hell is going on. The lights flicker before I hear an explosion above us. Bits of concrete cracking off and falling to the ground. The room reeks of tears and fear, it was burning my nose, the stench nearly making me gag. The woman stands up when I approach, she is wary of me. But she can feel that I'm an Alpha female. The woman has sandy blonde hair and big brown doe eyes. She is lean and muscular, she is a trained fighter, and blood smears her clothes. A child is clinging to her leg, whom I assume is her pup; she looks around the same age as Lily.
I can almost hear the vibration of everyone shaking in fear. The room seems to buzz with tension. "What's happened? How long have I been out?" I ask.
"Two days, Luna. We are at war." she whispers as the girl clinging to her leg whimpers. War?
"With whom?"
"Hunters they attacked and took some Pack members two days ago, your Beta came and warned us Alpha locked us in the bunker, they attacked not long after. We fought, but there were too many, the Alpha said it was best we stayed here."
"Which Alpha? Reid?"
"No, Luna, you're in Black Moon Territory." I know something has gone terribly wrong if I am here and so is half my Pack.
"Who is in charge here?" I ask expecting to see Michael's wife pop up from the shadows, the place was crammed with bodies. The room was huge like a football field, but not big enough for everyone to move or stretch their legs much. Another explosion was heard up above. I was worried the roof was going to cave in.
"You're in charge, Luna. Alpha David couldn't leave any warriors with us, there's too many of them."
Shit, I know what they wanted. Looking around the room, I tried to find Elizabeth, Michael's mate. I called out to her, but no answer.