Chapter 37

Ella.

Ella lay on Adam's bed within the pack house. She was glad he had a room here. His scent was all over the place and it soothed her more than anything could in that moment.

She hadn't thought she'd be able to sleep, but somehow her eyes had closed and she had drifted off. Ella stretched, letting the last of her tiredness flow out the end of her limbs. She checked the time and knew sunset would be upon them soon.

She got up and made her way back to the front of the pack house where Adam was standing, talking to a group of warriors. A map of the forest lay spread out before them, and Adam pointed to different sections for warriors to be posted.

"When I give the signal, we'll begin the frontal attack. As Ella and the twins escape, the two wings will wrap around, cutting off any retreat."

As he finished his thought, Adam smiled, turning around. "Have a good sleep?"

Ella smiled at him, coming into his embrace. "Uh-huh."

He wrapped his strong, warm arms around her, pulling her close. "Are you ready?"

Ella nodded firmly. "Let's get this bastard!"

"Let me introduce you to the two warriors who will be with you," Adam said, leading her out the doors.

Ella stood in wait with the two female warriors on the edge of the clearing. She couldn't see Aaron and Emme, but their sniffling could be heard even from where they hid. Ella took a deep breath, her chest shuddering slightly from anger and worry.

They had dressed in black to blend into the shadows. The women with her were so lithe and agile that she'd have no clue if she didn't already know they were there. One had midnight-blue hair braided down her back, ending right below her shoulder blades. The other had raven hair cut short and spiked up with gel. She was definitely the most intimidating of the two, but Ella was sure both were equally lethal.

Ella's wolf growled within her as she spotted Orion. He no longer wore the disguise she had learned to know. Seeing him reminded her of her mating ceremony. He had ruined her life five years ago - she would not let him ruin it again.

Without thinking, Ella took a step forward. The raven-haired woman placed a hand on her shoulder. "Not yet," she whispered.

Ella calmed and rested against the tree, not taking her eyes off the enemy. As she waited for the signal, Ella wondered where Lia was. Surely she wouldn't leave Orion alone with the children.

Before she could think longer, the signal was given and the three of them looped through the trees, trying to find where the children were kept. She soon spotted them and the warriors took out daggers, ready to defend Ella and the twins if the need arose.

Orion's back was to the twins as he lounged in a hammock. He had chained them to a tree near the edge of the clearing, making it impossible for them to escape or shift.

"Shhhh," Ella prompted the twins as she neared, putting her finger to her lips.

The twins' eyes widened and their tails wagged as they saw their mother. Ella gestured for them to stay on the ground. She couldn't risk them jangling the chain while they were so close to freedom. The midnight-blue-haired woman knelt down next to Ella, brandishing a pair of bolt cutters. Ella nodded and the woman mind-linked to Adam, telling him to start the charge.

Suddenly, the forest was alive with the sound of growls as a team of werewolves burst through the treeline. The woman cut the chains as close to the twins as possible. Ella scooped them up into her arms, giving them a squeeze before turning to flee.

But as she moved to take them into the forest, back to pack territory, a ferocious wolf blocked her path. Lia. Ella's eyes narrowed at the she-wolf. Before Lia could pounce at Ella, the other woman warrior shifted, her sleek black coat dashing quicker than Ella could track. She stood between Lia and Ella, growling in warning.

She gestured for Ella to continue on, but Lia moved to block them again. Suddenly, she pounced, and the two wolves were locked in combat. Ella felt a pull on her arm and she looked to see the braided-haired woman leading her forward, keeping herself between the fighting wolves and Ella.

***

Adam.

Adam charged into the clearing with a roar. He smiled as they caught Orion off-guard. Adam would finally rid the earth of that bastard! The bewildered werewolf looked around him and shifted, growing into the large werewolf Adam remembered from five years back. Orion let out a howl as he charged toward Adam viciously.

But just before he reached Adam, Orion changed course, heading straight for Clint. The Beta’s blue eyes flashed in surprise as the enormous wolf raked its claws across his midsection, quickly followed by a ferocious bite to the jugular, ripping a sizeable chunk from Clint’s windpipe. Adam growled in anger as his Beta fell to the ground, blood pooling around him.

Adam tackled Orion to the ground, but before he could unleash his rage upon the other Alpha, a trio of wolves dropped from the trees, knocking Adam off of Orion.

Where did these wolves come from? How did my scouts not sniff them out?

Adam saw more wolves descend on his warriors. They no longer had the advantage of numbers, but they still had the benefit of stronger fighters. His warriors quickly regrouped as the battle commenced. The clearing was a blur of fur, teeth, and claws.

***

Ella.

All hell broke loose after Adam charged Orion. Ella looked back as she noticed wolves popping down from trees all around the Rising Moon Pack’s fighters. She turned to go back, but was stopped by her companion.

“We need to get the children out of here,” she insisted. “Adam and the warriors will be fine.”

Ella peered around her at the battle, but nodded reluctantly. She carried her pups in her arms, running back to the pack as fast as her feet could take her.

As soon as they reached the border, patrolmen created a protective barrier. Ella sat the twins down and they got to work getting the chains off from around them. As soon as Aaron and Emme were free, they shifted back into their human forms and jumped into their mother’s arms, sobbing. Ella brushed their heads and whispered soothingly.

“It’s okay now. I’ve got you.”

Preston walked over, dismissing the guards and the female warrior. “Go back to the fight.”

She nodded and bounded back the way they had come.

“Let’s get you to the safety of your father’s house,” Preston said, guiding Ella and the twins away from the border. “Adam charged me with watching over you until this is over. We’ll hunker down in Everett’s house until Adam himself tells me otherwise.”

“But I have to go help him!” Ella protested.

“You have to make sure Aaron and Emme are safe. There is no one better suited for that job than their mother.”

Ella pouted, but then sighed. He was right. All she could do for now is hope and pray that Adam would be okay without her.