Chapter 138: Declare War

"I can explain, Jeremy!" I squeaked.

Jeremy scoffed and shook his head in disbelief. "You're causing trouble when we're trying to solve a problem!"

"They came here to help us!"

But Jeremy didn't give me a chance to speak. He walked off with the patrol leader while Dad half dragged me inside.

"Have you thought about Aurora and Arthur?" Dad's voice was soft - not judgmental, just concerned.

I took a deep breath and looked at Michael. A small sigh escaped his nose as he walked beside me, Michael's head bowed.

"You're hurt too. What if you were hurt worse and didn't survive?" Dad continued. "Let's treat your wounds first—yours and Michael's, okay?"

I just nodded obediently and walked into the living room. As soon as Michael and I sat down, Dad left the room. My eyes focused on Michael.

"I'm sorry, Michael," I whispered regretfully.

"It's okay, Deli. Alpha Jeremy has every right to be mad at me. I should have protected you."

"But you did!"

"Protecting you doesn't mean following your lead. I should have stopped and kept you out of danger, not led you into it."

I sighed at his words.

Then Dad returned carrying Aurora, with Aunt Disa following behind, holding Arthur in her arms. Two healers also entered the living room.

"Oh, moon goddess, Delilah!" Aunt Disa gasped when she saw me. Her eyes filled with tears. "Where have you been? You had us all worried!"

"I'm sorry, Aunty..."

"They need you, Delilah! Aurora and Arthur! You can't be selfish!"

Dad shook his head at Aunt Disa as a silent signal, then handed Aurora to me.

"The important thing is that Delilah is back," Dad said, looking at me calmly. "Hold your cubs—they must have missed you. And I know you've missed them too."

I choked back a sob and nodded weakly. I cradled Aurora in my arms and heard her make a slight noise as she squirmed. I'm sorry, my twin.

I felt my breasts swell, my body instinctively urging me to nurse. Even as the healers treated my injuries, I barely felt the pain.

"Once your wounds are treated, you need to rest," Dad said.

"Okay, Dad." I agreed.

As I stood up, a wave of dizziness hit me. The exhaustion I'd been pushing aside suddenly came crashing down on me.

Dad grabbed my arm immediately. "Are you okay, Delilah?"

"I'm just a little tired, Dad."

We heard footsteps approaching the living room, and Jeremy appeared in the doorway. He walked straight toward us.

"These royal alphas... they're all fugitives from the kingdom?" Jeremy looked incredulous.

Michael nodded. "The royal wolves are split, Alpha Jeremy."

"You said Elijah escaped from prison. Don't tell me—you two broke him out!"

Michael and I exchanged looks. There was no point in lying, was there?

"Yes, we freed King Elijah," I admitted bluntly.

The sound of my twins crying woke me up. I pushed back the blanket and walked over to their crib.

Suddenly, the door to my bedroom swung open. Aunt Disa came in with several wolves.

"Leave them to us. You need to wash and eat, Deli," Aunt Disa said.

"It's okay, I can handle it, Aunty."

"Alpha Jeremy wants you in the living room. All the Alphas have arrived, and they're meeting with the Royal Alphas who escaped."

What? What's going on?

"I thought Jeremy wanted to investigate the arrival of the royal wolves first?" I asked.

Even though I'd explained everything last night, that didn't mean Jeremy would just accept it. He would need time to decide if the royal alphas deserved to be in a non-royal pack.

"Deli, the kingdom sent a warning letter to our pack and others," Aunt Disa sighed. "And with that letter, they..."

"They what, Aunty?"

"They sent the heads of the captured royal wolves."