Tyler.
It was almost half a day and Arya was still unconscious. As much as Nate kept reassuring me that she was fine and would be awake soon, I couldn't help the fear that gripped me at how immobile she was on the bed.
Nate had gone to scour the pack and try to get some intel on the situation of the pack. However, through my heightened senses, I could feel his fast-beating heart as he approached the house.
Something was wrong. I could feel it. Was there another attack attempt? Anger filled my veins What had Lauren done this time?
Nate's urgent voice sliced through the stillness, "Tyler, the Crests are attacking! We need you now!"
"Fuck!" I wasn't ready to face Ethan. Not now. Not with the unrest Lauren had created. "He didn't keep to his word. The bastard! It's not even half a week yet"
"We need to go, Tyler. It's complete mayhem out there." Nate replied pacing back and forth across the room. "Ethan and his pack are ruthlessly killing our pack members. They need us."
“Fucking hell,” I breathed deeply, anger mixing with my blood and swirling chaotically inside me as Natalie walked into the room and held her mate.
"I heard," she said before he could relate the news. She gathered him in her arms and he held her close, wrapping his arms around her middle. With a pang, I watched them, reminded of Arya.
"There's a safehouse down the basement," Natalie said softly as she turned to me. "I'll take Arya and the staff there."
My heart pounded in my chest as I lay Arya's lithe form on a bed in a safe room within Nate's mansion, her unconscious form a painful reminder of the stakes. Nate said she would be fine but she still hadn’t come to. I brushed a gentle kiss on her forehead, "Hold on, Little One."
Giving her one last glance, I turned to Natalie, "Watch over Arya. Keep her safe."
Natalie's eyes flashed with defiance, "I can fight, Tyler. I won't let you and Nathan face this alone."
"No, you'll stay here with them. With Arya." I couldn't leave Arya here unprotected. Especially since she was still unconscious. Having someone with me would dispel any distractions and keep me focused on bashing Ethan’s head in.
"We'll be fine, love." Nate held her, placing a kiss on her lips. "As much as I love your fiery spirit, I don't want you in harm's way."
But my resolve was unwavering, "Natalie, I need you here to protect Arya. That's your mission. I don't know how bad it is out there, and I'd rather die than let him have her."
"Go before I change my mind," she said with obvious defeat. Turning to her mate, "Don't you dare die today, Nathaniel. I mean it. Or I’ll wake you up and kill you again."
"And leave you to another?" Nate chuckled, kissing her forehead and letting go of her. "Never."
"Kill that pitiful excuse for an alpha while you're at it," she said as she let him go before giving me a look. "No offense, Tyler."
"None taken," I smirked as I left for the battlefield with Nate following behind.
As I sprinted towards the battleground, the night roared with the clash of wolves. Moonlight painted a gruesome tapestry of chaos and blood.
Crest pack members, with Ethan at their helm, clashed against my pack. Shock gripped me as I saw Lauren among them, a venomous grin on her face.
"You can't escape, Tyler," she taunted, her voice cutting through the chaos. "If I can't have you, no one will. I’ll make sure your brother gets her first.”
The betrayal stung as I faced the pack, I once called my own, now torn apart by internal strife. Lauren's presence fueled my fury. I should have killed the bitch when I had the chance.
"I'll deal with you later, Lauren," I growled, as I howled, changing to my wolf form and rallying my pack members to stand firm against the Crest pack.
As we attacked the Crest pack, I strode forward ripping up anyone who tried to attack me. My eyes locked onto Ethan amidst the fray.
He stood away from the chaos. He smirked as he caught my eyes.
"I’m going to kill you, Ethan," I bellowed over the noise, grabbing a wolf that had tried to attack me from behind and snapping his neck. "Why don't you stop hiding behind your guard skirts and come fight me? Too scared?"
Ethan, with a sinister grin, retorted, "Your pack is crumbling, Tyler. I'll gladly wait to pick up the pieces."
"You'll regret this." My eyes flashed with anger as I noticed my pack numbers reducing drastically. I hated to admit it but he was winning. "This is my pack, Ethan! I've built it from the ground up. You won't take it away!" I roared, my fists clenching in fury as I lunged at Ethan.
Before I could get to him, Ethan's pack soldiers swarmed the force of their attack, weakening me. I couldn’t fight them all.
Through the painful attacks, I could hear Ethan's voice taunting me, "Your little kingdom is falling, Tyler. And your precious mate will be mine."
Rage burned in my eyes.
Arya.
I’d die first before I lost her.
*****
Arya.
I woke up with a start, my heart pounding against my ribcage.
"Arya! Finally. You had us worried there, love," I breathed a sigh of relief as I noticed a familiar face. I felt a pang of apprehension in my chest. Tyler was in danger. I hoped it wasn't what I thought it was.
"Natalie, where's Tyler?" I frantically searched her face for an answer that wasn't dangerous. The last thing I remember was the furious chants of the wolves as they threw a burning touch into the house through a window and the angry flames engulfing me.
Natalie hesitated. "You've been unconscious for almost two days, Arya. You need your rest."
"Where's Tyler?" I demanded, sitting upright and surprised at my own strength. "Something is not right, Natalie. Where's he?"
"Ethan attacked our pack. Tyler's out front in the battlefield." She said, regretting it immediately. "He said to look after you."
"No, I need to go to him." I tried to get off the bed but she held me back.
"No. What you need to do is rest."
"Natalie, I'm strong enough. I can't hide while they fight for our pack." I tried to reason with her. "Besides, I can't lose my mate again. I can't bear the pain. Please let me go."
"Alright. Your words, not mine. I'd be happy to join you. Being here is driving me nuts," she said as she threw some clothes at me. "Are you sure you're up for this?"
I nodded as I wore a pair of boots she gave me.
"Alright, let's go make wolf pudding out of those bastards."
"You can be really terrifying sometimes." I frowned at her choice of words as she chuckled.
"Come on, let's go."
As I closed in on the battlefield, the sound of the cries from my pack broke something in me. I brought this upon them. I have to end it.
Searching for Tyler among the fray, I found him lying at Ethan's mercy. Ethan had his boots on Tyler’s chest as a devilish smile stretched his lips. I saw red as I roared, my body contorting as I willed my fangs to fall out and my claws appeared.
I lunged at Ethan with speed and strength I didn't know I had, throwing him to the ground. He backed away, surprised at my strength.
"How dare you!" I smacked him with my claws, tearing at him, and sending him rolling across the street.
"Arya?" he groaned, trying to stand up while peering at me, fear in his eyes. I could tell he was shocked at my strength. I was too but I wasn’t about to let him see it.
"If you don't want to be buried here and now, take your pack and leave while you can still breathe," I growled at him coldly, showing him my fangs as I hovered over him menacingly. "I won't ask again."