Chapter Eighty-Three

***Hadrian***

Once I make it to the open end of the clearing, I am surrounded by 5 other alphas. They all start to shift into their wolf forms, and I realize I am the biggest one among us, so taking them down will be easy. One on my right launches himself at me, and I quickly latch onto his throat and slam him to the ground, biting down until I hear his neck snap. While his blood starts to form a puddle around his head, the others look at each other, I assume communicating with the mind-link. Two of them make a run at me at the same time, one on each side. But they don’t make it far because I dart out of the way, causing them to collide with each other and end up in a heap of fur and flailing limbs on the ground. I move in swiftly and slash one’s belly open, leaving them to gurgle on their own blood while I rip out the other’s throat. The last two start to back away from me slowly, not wanting to end up like their 3 dead friends. I bare my teeth at them, blood dripping from my mouth and chin. I can hear the whine they let out, but a thud draws my attention instead. I look up quickly to see Kautious on the ground, a brown wolf standing protectively over him, Mom at the clearing entrance, and a big gray wolf facing them while growling.

I didn’t even notice that the other 2 wolves ran away. My focus is on this gray wolf threatening my mate. I let out a loud, menacing growl, causing the wolf to whip around and face me. He doesn’t get a very good look at me, considering I’ve already crossed the clearing and have my jaw around his throat, blood dripping down my jaw as I bite down harder. A low whine leaves his throat before a sickening crack. I knew I snapped his neck, so I threw him to the side before facing the brown wolf over my mate. I let out a warning growl, and he lowers his ears, backing away from Kautious and lowering himself to the ground in a sign of submission. Kautious turns back into his human form, running over to me and hugging my neck while he whispers, “Shhh, it’s okay, Hadrian. I’m safe. Your mom is safe. Jack was protecting me, so I wasn’t injured.” I turn back to my human form and scoop my omega into my arms, putting his head into my neck as I tower over Jack. He stays still in his wolf form, staring up at me with big eyes until I command him to shift. When he does, he stays sitting. I glance at my mom, who is looking at me with a worried look, and I sigh before turning back to Jack, “Thank you for protecting my mate when you had no obligation to. I owe you.” He nods his head but doesn’t say anything.

I feel Kautious kiss my shoulder before wiggling and making his way down. When he is standing firmly on his feet, he turns to Jack and smiles, “Hello Jack, it’s been a while. What exactly were you doing here with those assholes?” He sighs, “Mom died, and your parents made an example of my father for not following their beliefs. They killed him in front of the whole pack. I’m here because they’re teaching me ‘the way of an alpha’ so I don’t end up like ‘my disgrace of a father.’ At least, that’s what I’m told anyway. I honestly think I’m just a scapegoat. You know your parents have their favorites. Your mate just killed one of them.” I look down at the grey wolf a few feet from us and scoff. Kautious helps Jack stand before he turns to me, “So our plan is completely blown because 2 of the 5 you were fighting got away, meaning they will tell my parents they were attacked, and we need to prepare for an attack. We have maybe 4 days to prepare, 3 if they are determined enough. We need to be ready because Faye is pregnant now, and I don’t want them on the main grounds of our pack territory.” I hear a small gasp behind Kautious and look at Mom. She has her hands covering her mouth, and she looks like she’s going to cry, “Faye is pregnant? That’s wonderful!”

I nod, “Just found out this morning, Mom. She isn’t very far along, but Kautious could sense it before any of us.” Kautious gives me a wary smile like he did something wrong, so I squeeze his shoulder in reassurance before turning back to Jack and my mother, “Since 2 got away, that means we need to get back to the pack. We need to bring Jack in for protection if he is on our side of taking the pack down. Otherwise, I’ll kill you right here and now if you would prefer to return to your pack.” Jack takes in a deep, shuttering breath, “I want that pack gone as much as Kautious does. Nothing good has ever come from it except a few people here and there.” Kautious nodded, and I looked Jack over one more time before giving a slight nod, “Okay, then let’s go home. We need to start getting stuff ready. I turn and head out of the clearing, Kautious jogging up to my side. He lightly taps my hand with his, and when I look down at him, he looks up and gives me a blinding smile. I can’t help the smile that crosses my own lips at the happiness beaming off of my little mate. Goddess, why is he so damn irresistible. I am suddenly very aware of the fact that Kautious has no clothes on in front of another alpha. I usher him to the bush to put his clothes on, and with a roll of his eyes, he does so. I put mine on as well before turning to my mom and Jack, “We are about a mile walk from the pack house. Think you both will be okay making it there, or should I shift to my wolf form and carry one of you?” My mom rolls her eyes at me, “Son, you know I am a lot stronger than I seem, even for my age.” I see Jack blush as he looks my mom over, raising an eyebrow at him. He lets out a nervous chuckle and scratches the back of his neck as we head back to the pack house.

About 30 minutes later, we have finally made it back. I bring Jack to a spare house and mindlink Rollie to come get him settled in. Mom goes back to her own little house while Kautious and I enter the pack house. We notice it’s strangely quiet in here as we look for the others. I hear faint words being exchanged, and I change my current course of walking to head towards the library where the sound is coming from. Kautious and I reach the closed door of the library to hear Faye sobbing. Kautious goes to open the door, but I stop him, quietly putting my ear against the door, and Kautious follows my lead. I feel my heart sink as I hear Faye’s voice through the door, breaking over sobs, “I… I don’t want… any of us… to have to die!”