Tyler.
The night air hung heavy with the acrid scent of smoke. My home, my sanctuary, had been destroyed by the one people I thought would never betray me. Anger surged through my veins, threatening to consume me. I needed to teach them a lesson.
Why the fuck would they attack their Alpha’s house?
As Nate led the way to his house, I couldn't help the fear that gripped me as I watched Arya form shift in my arms.
I kept my eyes and ears on alert as Nate and his mate scouted the surrounding area of their secluded mansion. After signaling their security to open the gates and secure the area, we moved into the house.
With shaky hands, I quickly placed my hand on Arya's neck to check her pulse. I exhaled in relief as I felt a weak but steady pulse.
Anger filled me as the image of Arya's unmoving form kept replaying in my mind. She could have died tonight. I almost lost my second chance mate to my past.
Gently laying Arya on a bed in Nate's guest room, I brushed a strand of hair off her face. "I'm so sorry, Little One," I whispered softly.
Nate, with a furrowed brow, approached me as I stood near Arya's unconscious form. "Is everyone alright, Nate?"
"Your staff were not affected by the fire. They're fine." He sighed walking towards the bed with his medical supplies. Nate was a medical doctor. Aside from being my second in command, he was also the pack’s doctor. I had never been so glad about someone's profession as I was at this moment.
"How is she doing?" I asked with anticipation as I turned my attention to Arya, who remained unconscious. At this point I was desperate for good news. Any figment of it.
"How is she?" I asked again, sharply this time, as Nate continued his medical mumbo jumbo without saying a word, my concern palpable.
Unruffled by my redirected anger, Nate gave me a concerned look. "She'll be alright, Tyler. The smoke inhalation was severe, but she was strong. She needs rest and time to recover."
Relief washed over me, but the anger of the recent attack still burned within.
Nate sighed, his eyes reflecting a mix of anger and frustration. "Lauren kept instigating the protest to banish Arya even after the ritual. She might still be rallying others against Arya as we speak, claiming she's a threat to the pack's peace."
"Is she that desperate to be the Luna? Even after I rejected her?" Lauren must think I would marry her if Arya was out of the way. A ridiculous prospect given that I couldn't imagine my life without Arya.
Nate nodded solemnly. "It seems that way. She saw an opportunity to turn the pack against Arya and took it. I had no idea she would go this far."
"Your ex is batshit crazy, I'll give you that." Natalie said as she entered the room.
"Crazy is an understatement" Nate frowned. "Lauren must have a backup plan as her original plan failed."
"I hope her backup plan is how she would flee the Rogue City." I growled, my voice hardening as liquid anger coursed through my veins. "Because I swear by the moon goddess, no one will stop me from killing her if I lay my eyes on her again"
"Killing her is out of the question, Tyler. You know her father's a very important man."
"To hell with that!" I yelled, turning to him. "I almost lost Arya today because of her. This is the last straw, Nate. I've tolerated too much from her."
Natalie placed her hand on my arm, silently telling me to calm down.
As much as I hated to admit it, Nate was right. Banishing her was the best solution given the fragile tension of the pack at the moment. But of course I wasn't going to admit that to him.
My beta approached with a measured caution in his eyes. "Tyler, we need to handle this with a clear mind. Retaliating against our own won't solve anything. There’s still the matter of Ethan to worry about.”
"They attacked us, Nate! Members of my own pack!” my eyes ablaze with anger. I couldn’t stop thinking about the image of Arya lying unconsciously on the floor as the fire burned around her. “So, this is not retaliation. Ignoring this would send the wrong message."
Nate raised his hands in a placating gesture. "I get it. But consider the bigger picture. The Crest pack is planning something big, and if we turn on each other, Ethan wins."
I scoffed, the bitterness of betrayal still fresh. "They're already turning on us. Why should I show them mercy?"
Nate's gaze bore into mine, unwavering in its resolve. "Because we're stronger, united. We need every wolf we can get to face the Crest pack. Killing our own weakens us."
I clenched my fists, the conflicting desires for vengeance and strategic thinking warring within me. "I won't forgive them for what they've done."
Nathan's expression softened, a subtle plea in his eyes. "I'm not asking you to forgive, Tyler. But we need to be smart about this. Let's focus on the real threat."
I reluctantly nodded. Nathan was right. The real enemy lurked beyond our pack borders. Turning against our own would only play into Ethan's hands.
"If we must banish her, don't let me set my eyes on her. I won't be held responsible for my actions on the wench," I replied after taking a second to assess the situation, turning my attention back to Arya."We need to regroup and gather our strength."
Nate nodded, his gaze fixed on the door. "We can't stay here for long. Lauren might still be up to no good while we're here. We need to act strategically. First, we secure this location. Then, gather information on Lauren's alliances within the pack. Once we have enough evidence, we present it to the pack and banish her and her supporters."
Though I'd rather tear the culprits up with my bare hands for the attack on my home, I had to be reasonable.
Natalie's eyes met mine, unwavering. "I agree with Nate. She's a threat. We can't let her continue tearing the pack apart for her own selfish purposes. This is the only way to ensure our pack's safety."
As we discussed our plan, my mind wrestled with the fear that gripped me when I thought Arya might be lost to the flames. I couldn't shake the image of her unconscious form amid the chaos no matter how much I tried.
"I thought she was dead," I admitted, my voice laced with a vulnerability that surprised even me. "The fear, the panic—it was overwhelming. I can't lose her, Nate."
Nate placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "We won't let that happen, Tyler. We'll protect her and bring those responsible to justice. Now, let me take care of your mate. I need both of you out of the room." Nate said as he waved at both of us to leave.
"Please be alright, Little One," I said a silent prayer to the moon goddess as I took one final glance at her unmoving form before closing the door.