Chapter 12

Chapter 12
Chase’s POV

I stood on the stage in front of the entire pack. Jensen stood next to me and on my other side was my father. We stood in silence as the pack shouted and talked amongst themselves. I had just told them the details of the curse. I had told them everything we knew about it. It was understandable that they were upset. Not only were they in danger of losing their wolves, but we had also kept that knowledge from them as well. I knew there would be backlash, and had hoped that we could break the curse without the pack ever finding out. But with two weeks left until my birthday, it was looking less and less likely. 

“How could you keep this from us?” Someone shouted, and the crowd died down, awaiting our answer. It was my father who stepped up.

“The decision to withhold the information was with me and not with Chase,” he said. “Your grievance should remain with me and not your Alpha.”

“Is this why you took the Alpha title now?” a woman called out.

“In part yes,” I responded, and whispers went through the crowd, “But also because this is my rightful title.”

“So why are you telling us now?” another voice from the audience asked. I hesitated before I answered. I looked at Jensen, and he nodded in support.

“As you are all aware, I found my fated mate,” the audience buzzed, and I heard traitor a few times. I clenched my fists and resisted the urge to growl.

“Kaeleigh is sweet, kind, and she is powerful.” There was a murmur among the crowd. It was already common knowledge that she was of Alpha strength to rival me and my father.

“So then, if she is your mate, then why did she betray us?” Another woman near the front asked.

“She didn’t betray us,” I said. “She is trying to save us.” I waited while the gasp ran through the audience. 

“Asher Bowman, Alpha of the Crimson Shadow pack, offered her a deal.” I took a breath as Onyx growled in my head. “The deal was to become the Luna of his pack and he would have the curse removed from my wolf.” I allowed that to sink in for a moment.

“You see, she sacrificed her own happiness and her love for her fated mate, for your Alpha, to protect all of you,” Jensen said, and I glanced at him and nodded and he continued. “That is the mark of a true Luna.” There were nods in the audience.

“But word has reached us that Kaeleigh is in danger at Crimson Shadow,” I said, “and I cannot sit by and allow my love to be hurt, so tomorrow I will be launching an attack on the Crimson Shadow pack.” 

“And you expect us to fight for you, after you have lied to us,” an angry voice from the back called out and there was a sound of agreement, albeit less than before.

“No,” I said. “But I expect you to make a choice. I understand what I am asking is dangerous. I also understand that if we are unsuccessful in bringing back Kaeleigh that it will mean the death of my wolf, and in turn, the wolves of my people.” I could see and hear the conflict in the audience. “So it is your choice, if you wish to stay in Dark Moon. And if not, then I ask you to renounce the pack tonight. There are three packs that we have arranged that will take you in, and we will make all the arrangements-”

“I, Quinn Davis, renounce the Dark Moon pack.” A gasp went through the audience as the last voice sounded out, and I closed my eyes as I felt the bond snap. I could tell he was of low family rank, but I felt it all the same. I could see Jensen searching for the owner of the voice with fury on his face. 

“Find him,” he shouted, and I shook my head at him. 

“I told them to make a choice, and he did,” I said aloud and then lowered my voice, “but I have to get somewhere quiet before more people do.” My dad took my arm.

“Jensen, take over. I’ll get Chase upstairs. This could hurt a lot.” And we headed out of the hall 

“Where’s he going?” It was the same man who had just renounced. “He’s running away.”

“Don’t be a dick,” a woman shouted at him. “The breaking of the bond is painful to our Alpha. Show some respect.” 

“He’s not my Alpha anymore,” the man replied, and I heard a fight break out. I hesitated at the steps, but my dad urged me on. 

“Come on, son Jensen has it.” And he pushed me up the stairs.

We had just about got to the top floor when the next bond broke, and the next one, and the next one. Each one was as painful as the last. I tried to breathe through them, but they were coming quickly and I soon lost count. My mum appeared as I sat on the sofa in the living room as tears streamed down my eyes as more and more bonds broke. She rushed over to me and held a cloth to my nose.

“Daniel!” she yelled as I felt faint. I pulled at the cloth and saw it was blood soaked. My dad rushed into the room. 

“Daniel,” my mum cried, “what’s happening?” My dad looked concerned. 

“I don’t know love, this didn’t happen to me,”

“It’s the curse,” I looked towards the voice and saw Elaina standing there, “It’s already taking effect and weakening his wolf. Combined with the pack bonds breaking, it’s a lot for his body to handle.” She came over and smiled at me. “I’m going to give you something for the pain Chase, okay?” and I nodded. She rubbed some foul smelling stuff on my forehead and began whispering some words, and I felt lightheaded and soon everything started fading into darkness.

When I woke up, I felt like I had been hit by a bus. I was in my bed and it was just dusk. I pulled myself out of bed and groaned as every muscle in my body burned. I headed out to the living room where my parents, Jensen and a few others were all sitting. My mum came over to me when she saw me.

“Oh Chase, how are you feeling?” she asked, and I smiled and patted her arm. 

“I’m feeling better, thanks mum,” I headed to sit on the sofa when Jensen looked at me with a sombre expression.

“How many?” I asked, and he closed his eyes.

“Two hundred and sixty-four,” his voice was quiet, and I nodded. Two hundred and sixty-four pack members renouncing the pack. That left us with forty-one members, us included. In less than a year, we had gone from the biggest pack in Europe to less than fifty.

“It was mostly families, which is understandable, but our numbers for the attack currently stand at twenty-seven,” He finished his report and looked at me.

“Twenty-seven warriors against maybe three thousand.” This was gonna be tough.

“Yeah, about that,” and I looked towards a familiar voice standing in the entrance. 

I looked over and saw Dominic, my cousin, and the Alpha of the Sunset Rose pack. A grin spread across my face as I walked over and shook his hand.

“What the hell are you doing here, man?” I asked.

“I got a message that you might need some reinforcements,” he said, grinning.

“From who?” We had been careful about who knew what was going on in the pack in case we had any more spies. He laughed. 

“Oh dude, that is a long story for another time,” he clapped me on the back, “but I do come with gifts.” Then he shrugged as he walked me over to the main windows that overlooked the park. 

“Or at least a loan.” I looked out of the window and stood in the park, laughing and joking amongst themselves, was an army of warriors. I looked at Dominic and he grinned, before his eyes glazed and the men all moved into formation, and Dominic’s eyes cleared.

“Four hundred and seventy-one of my best men,” he said. “Oh, and me.” I shook my head at his conviction. I nodded my head and grinned and turned to the room. 

“We have an army.”

Everyone came forward to greet Dominic, and we headed to go out and greet the warriors. I could tell by the look in Meagan’s eyes that she wanted to warm up the new warriors. I had got to the second floor when the familiar pain ripped through me and I stopped and gripped the wall as I tried to let the pain dissipate. Zoey rushed to my side and smiled.

“Let’s get you to bed, Alpha,” she said and helped me head back up the stairs. I threw an apologetic smile to Dominic before another wave of pain ripped through me.

“What’s going on?” Dominic asked and Jensen nodded at Zoey, who then tugged on my arm and I saw Jensen talk to Dominic. We headed up to my room and I climbed back into bed, and Zoey sat in the chair in the corner of my room. 

“You don’t have to stay.” I tensed against another wave.

“I’m fine, Alpha, get some rest. I need you strong for tomorrow,” she smiled at me. “I really miss my best friend and really want to see her again.” 

“Yeah,” I said as my eyes got heavy, “me too darling, me too.” And the world faded to black.



The next day

I was standing on the edge of the Crimson Shadow territory, the heavy rain was soaking me to the bone. The benefit of spending a week in wolf form, stalking the borders of their territory, gave me a lot of usable intel into the schedules and weaknesses. While I had slept, Meagan, Dominic and Jensen and redistributed the warriors with the additional resources. Dominic told me this morning when I was overseeing the changes that he would trade all four hundred and seventy warriors for Meagan. Apparently, she bested several of them in sparring last night. I told him he could double it and I still wasn’t interested. 

The plan was simple, and similar to last time. We had six pockets of warriors in strategic areas around the border. They would attack in set order, intending to rush the decisions and creating chaos within the compound. At which point my team, which consisted of myself, Jensen, Meagan, Kierra, Zoey and six warriors, would slip into the pack house and head to the sixth floor. 

I watched Meagan with anticipation as she gave a signal through the mind link to each team. The alarms sounded, and I looked at Meagan, who grinned. That told me everything was going to plan. I took a breath and under the anticipation I felt something else, like something was moving under my skin and it was pushing to the surface. Suddenly, everything felt clearer than it had in weeks. It was like my head was no longer under water. I clutched my heart and the sensation coming from it washed through my body. Jensen looked at me, alarmed.

“Hey man, you alright?” I grinned at him, tears in my eyes.

“I am amazing,” I said. “I can feel her. I can feel my Kaeleigh.” 

Meagan turned to me. 

“Then let’s go get our girl.” And we were off. We headed down the trail that Meagan had used when she was undercover here, which took us straight to the pack house. It felt too easy, but Meagan signalled us into the side track. She watched and then sighed. She then stepped out into the main path and stood in the centre, lit up by the artificial street lights. Kierra made a move, but I held her back and nodded. Two shadows appeared from either side and stood in front of her.

“Hey sprite,” one of them sneered as they stepped into the light and I recognised Bryce and Blaine Stanton, former elite warriors of Dark Moon, traitors, and Meagan’s older brothers.

“Come to join the winning side,” Bryce grinned at her. “Mum and dad miss you.” Even from here, I could see Meagan flinch. Other than one sibling, the whole family had been spies for Crimson Shadow, including Meagan’s father and former warrior commander.

“I am on the winning side,” Meagan said confidently. “You’ll see.” I saw more movement and shadows appeared behind the brothers as their grins grew.

“What’s wrong boys?” Meagan asked, “didn’t think you could take me by yourselves?” 

“Looks to me that either way, you’re all alone,” Joseph sneered, and I looked to the right as someone came running down the path and walked up to Meagan. 

“Sorry babe,” Theo Hall stood next to Meagan, and the brothers growled. I guess even on opposite sides, they were still not keen on their little sister dating. I grinned as more of our people followed from the direction Theo had come. 

Everything had gone according to plan. Meagan knew they would monitor this area and now as the fighting started, we had a perfect distraction to slip into the pack house. It was quiet inside and we quickly headed towards the stairwell. Thanks to the map Meagan had given me, I knew exactly where to go. Adam had confirmed earlier that protocol for Kaeleigh was guarded in her room, so that was where we were headed. We managed to get to the fourth floor when we were ambushed by Crimson Shadow warriors. They came storming out from the stairwell and we engaged straight away. Jensen nodded to me as I grabbed one of the warriors and threw him down the stairs.

“Go,” he said with a grin, “We’ll lead them off. Go get Kaeleigh.”

I headed up the next two flights and hit the sixth floor, which looked all but deserted. I headed down the hall, which was deserted apart from two forms slumped in front of a door. I grinned at the unconscious guards and silently thanked Adam for taking care of them for me. I typed the code I was given into the keypad and the red light turned green. I took a breath and opened the door and walked in. 

Her scent hit me like a wall as soon as I entered, and Onyx yipped in excitement. I looked round the room and my eyes fell on the most beautiful sight in the world. 

“Mate,” Onyx howled “Mate.”

“Kaeleigh,” I whispered.