Shadows of the Wolf Moon (The Shadow Pack Chronicles Book 2), page 11
“She’ll be fine. Izzy has her.” Zane looks over at me as he stretches his legs. I’m not sure why he even bothers. It’s not like it’s a requirement for us to stretch before shifting, but he insists it feels so much better when he’s fully stretched.
I tug off my boots and proceed to strip my clothes off. I hang them on a nearby tree branch. “I know, but I just don’t feel good about any of this.”
He rolls his eyes and shuffles his black hair into a teased mess. “I know you don’t, but she told you to go. It’s fine. The first sign of trouble, we’ll be back in no time.”
I felt my wolf pace restlessly. He was ready for the run, and hopefully, it would do us some good. I doubt the worry would cease, though. I let the change ripple over me, and the tension seemed to leave me as each bone broke and rearranged into my wolf form.
Within a matter of seconds, my shift was complete, and I turned to see Zane still stretching. I shook my head and barked at him.
“I’m hurrying. Hold on.” He tugged off his clothes and laid them similarly as I had on a tree branch. His shift takes a little longer than I want to wait.
I impatiently pace while my wolf begs to start the run without him. I looked around deeper into the woods with longing. Finally, I hear the final snaps of his bones rearranging, and he yips, signaling he’s ready.
We take off onto the well-worn path that will take us around the full circle of the pack territory.
We run for what feels like a good hour before stumbling across something concerning. The scents do not match any of our patrol or the men who came from the High Alpha.
Zane looks around the area, ears perked up, listening to the nighttime sounds. I don’t hear anything, but these scents, they’re fresh. They couldn’t be that far.
I scent the area again quickly, trying to assess what I’m smelling, when the putrid scent hits my nose. It’s the hybrids. They’re in danger. I knew I should have never left her.
Zane and I take off toward the pack houses. I just hope we’re not too late.
It seems like we’ll never get there with each step I take. I keep thinking about how far away I am.
GARRETT, I’M IN LABOR! I hear Leia scream through our bond, and I can tell that Zane got a similar message from Izzy.
Zane faster!
We run at speeds I didn’t know were even possible. We’re about halfway there when Leia sounds the alarm through the entire pack link.
Hybrids have arrived. Get into your houses and lock the doors. We will be safe, don’t worry.
I can feel her anguish through the bond before she cuts me off completely. Leia? Leia, what are you doing?
I’m met with silence. A sickening realization dawns on me that she is going out to face them. She knew I’d never allow it and completely cut off communication for that very reason.
Zane, double time. She’s going to face them in full labor. I felt it through the bond. It’s close, and she’s crazy enough to attempt this.
My only hope is that I make it in time. After this is all over, she is in deep trouble.
Leia
I raise from the bed. I struggle to breathe as each wave of contraction hits me.
“What are you doing? The healer said the hybrids were here. You need to stay inside and wait for Garrett and Zane.” Izzy tries to push me back on the bed.
“Nope. I’m alpha and this is my fight.”
The color on Izzy’s face completely drains. “I knew you were crazy, but you can’t face them in labor. Leave it to the boys.”
I laugh. “I got enough rage to level them all. You can't stop me because I'm doing this.”
I use my strength and push myself from the bed. Before the contraction hits again, I walk a couple of steps. Izzy is at my side in no time. “You can’t do this. See, you can’t even make it too steps without being bent over in pain.”
I right myself, my back ramrod straight as I grit my teeth through the pain. “I am the alpha of this pack, and I will protect them. It’s my duty.”
Izzy tugs my arm. “No, you are one of the alphas of this pack. Garrett is going to kill me for letting you do anything other than lay on this bed and prepare for birthing your son.”
I snarl in her face. “Is he here? No. It’s up to me and I will protect my people.”
No sooner than the words left my mouth, I hear the taunting outside. Daniel’s voice sounds clear, “Come out, little alpha’s mate. We just want to play.”
I finally grasp the doorknob and turn it. Another wave of pain washes over me and I bear it. I grit my teeth and keep walking.
Once I’m at the front door, I take a deep breath and release it slowly. Wolf, I’m counting on you. Always. Make this fast.
I swing the door open and walk down the steps. Fake it until I make it is the only chant I hear in my head.
The silence is a little unnerving, but I knew I had to cut Garrett off. He’d never approve of me meeting his brother and the hybrids alone.
I feel a hand around my left arm, and I quickly look to see Izzy beside me. “I won’t let you fight alone. We’re sisters.”
I nod my head and then focus on Daniel. He is in the front with about twenty hybrids behind him. “Where’s Garrett?”
“He’s around. Why are you here?” Another contraction. Just breathe.
“I see the baby hasn’t arrived yet.” He eyes me and then looks over at my sister.
“No, the baby hasn’t arrived and won’t be for a little while.” I didn’t like exactly, I just omitted how long a little while truly was. Another twinge. Calm breath.
His head cocks to the side, his orange eyes looking at me thoroughly. “Lies. You’re in labor.”
My eyes widen in shock. How could he possibly know?
He laughs at my reaction. “It’s easy to tell. So, are you going to come with us willingly or do I have to take you by force?
Izzy tightens her grip on my arm. “You won’t take her. We will fight you to the death before that happens.”
Daniel laughs loudly and looks around as others join in. “Great, two pregnant she wolves. One in labor and one about five to six months along. This is too easy.”
His laugh bellows out into the night.
“You won’t find it so funny when we kick your rear ends and send you packing.” Izzy cockily speaks her mind.
She moves forward, but I tug her behind me. I hear her through the pack link. You can’t fight. I can. We don’t even know if you can still shift. I can.
She had a point. It’s not like I had shifted in a while. I hadn’t needed to. Guess we’ll find out.
“Times up. You are both coming with us.” Daniel marches over and grabs me roughly. I try to fight back, but his grip is too tight.
One of the hybrid tugs Izzy in the same direction as he grabs her. I fight harder, but Daniel stops tugging me and leans down in my face. “If you keep this up, I’ll have him kill her. Can you live with that?”
I stop moving and become compliant.
“Good girl.”
He stops in the center of the pack houses and takes one look around. “It was nice seeing this place again. One day, it will be mine again.”
He looks at me, but I just roll my eyes.
Suddenly, I hear the crunching of leaves and loud barks. I look just in time to see Garrett and Zane barreling out of the trees.
“Too late boys,” Daniel calls out, then mumbles some words out quietly, so low that I can’t even hear him. A portal shimmers into existence and he pulls us through. The hybrids follow quickly, and I watch in horror as I see Garrett running at full speed at the portal, but it closes right before he reaches it.
Chapter 26
Garrett
The portal shuts in front of my face. My wolf roars out his displeasure and I pace in the spot where it was only a second ago.
I shift back to human and look at Zane. “Get a team together. We leave now! Did anyone hear where they went?”
The healer steps out of his house. “I did. They’re headed to California. I believe he said, San Diego Residence.”
“Get my team together now!” I roar out my orders and watch everyone scramble to meet my demands. In a matter of minutes, we are ready to go.
“San Diego Residence, California.” The portal opens and I can see woods on the other side.
We run through without much thought, Zane by my side, a look of determination on his face. After a moment of running as humans, we shift into our wolf forms and scent the air. We luckily pick up their scents immediately and follow the path to retrieve our mates.
It takes about thirty minutes for us to track them down. They had left some decoys on the path that distracted us from the path, but after a minute, we were able to sort it out and get back on the path.
A villa comes into view, and I can hear Leia’s screams.
I run faster. I can feel her pain from even this distance and before I know it, I’m rushing toward the house. I jump out of the trees and roar.
Izola turns to face us, looking unamused. “Ah, there is the alpha.”
I can see Leia behind her, laying on her back on the ground. She screams as a contraction racks her body. Izzy is by her side, looking helpless and holding her hand.
I look around at the familiar landscape and recognize this is where we were before. I shift back to my human form and look sternly at Izola. “Let me help my mate. She is about to give birth and I need to be by her side.”
Daniel appears through the door with a pleased expression. “Ah, you came. I knew you’d make it for the show.”
Izola looks at Daniel rather unhappily before rolling her eyes. She flips her long blonde hair over her shoulder. “It’s time.”
Before I can say another word, Daniel charges me, shifting into his wolf and fights break out all over. He tackles me to the ground and snarls in my face. I reach up and push his jaws back away from me. My shift ripples over my skin in an instance.
I attack. I jump and land on his back and start trying to shred him with my claws. He throws me off and then I hear Leia scream another loud wail. I look over at her, knowing the time is near and I have to get to her.
Daniel takes advantage of my being distracted and lunges at me. He gets a grip on my throat, and I shake, trying to throw him off. He tightens his jaws and I feel like my air is getting cut off.
I finally use my alpha power and he submits just enough for me to get loose. Another wail sounds in the air, and I feel my wolf’s urgency to end this.
I lunge for Daniel, and he sidesteps my advances. With every lunge, he dodges and rolls. Finally, after a moment of playing chase, I’m able to land a hit on him as I rake my claws down his shoulder.
He lets out a whine as blood gushes from the wound.
“Garrett! He’s coming!”
I close my eyes. I fight every instinct to go to her. It’s killing my wolf inside to do this. I take another lunge for Daniel and land another blow on his other shoulder. It opens and pours forth a fountain of blood.
Daniel, please don’t make me do this. We’re brothers.
I’m met with silence. He snarls as he looks over his wounds. He jumps at me and catches me with the tips of his claws down my back. I had moved but just wasn’t fast enough.
I’m begging you, Daniel. Please stop.
Suddenly, my pleas are heard, and his eyes widen in shock. Brothers? Ha. I was nothing. I was in your shadow my whole life. This is my chance to be the top wolf, so to speak. I will have it all. There will be no more shadows for me.
He lunges for me once more, but this time I’m ready for it. His jaws are open wide as he aims for my throat.
I shift to my human form and grab both jaws in my hands. His voice sounds through the link. Kill me, save me.
With a little force and the element of surprise, I hear the crunch of bone. As I let go of his jaws, he dropped to the ground.
I fall to my knees and look over his body. I tip my head back and let out an anguished cry. Zane feels it through the link and lets out a mournful howl.
I feel lost and my heart aches. For a moment, it drowns out all the noise of the fighting and Leia’s cries.
Then, her cries grow louder, and I’m snapped back to reality. I rush over to her side, taking in the surrounding battle, and drop to the ground to hold her hand.
Sweat dribbles from her forehead. “Where is Izola?”
Izzy looks up from checking her. “We don’t know. She was there, but once you all started fighting, she took off. I have no idea where she is. Someone left out the back too, but I have never seen him before.”
Leia lets out another cry that almost sounds like the roar of her wolf.
Izzy’s eyes widen and she gets her hand loose from her hold. “She’s about to have this baby here and now. Are you ready, dad?”
I’m looking at Leia, but my eyes raise to meet Izzy's when she calls me dad. “Yes, ready as I’ll ever be. This was so not how I pictured this.”
Leia’s breath grows ragged as she pushes at Izzy’s command. I pour my alpha power into her and into my son. I feel every agonizing moment of it. Every time her body feels like it’s giving out, I pour her more of my strength.
“It’s almost like he’s stuck. I can see his head, but every push she does is not pushing him out.” Izzy keeps checking her, but she leans back on her heels.
Leia huffs out a breath, “Get him out. Save him.”
I’m still holding Leia’s hand, completely unsure of what to do. “Leia, it’s going to be okay. Izzy will help you. Just relax.”
Izzy works around and tries pushing on her stomach. “I’m trying, that’s for sure. Just give me a minute. It’s not like I’ve delivered a lot of babies.”
Panic takes hold. “You know how to deliver a baby, right?”
She looks at me with rage, “I know enough. Now sit there, hold your mate’s hand, and just let me work.”
As she works, I keep pouring my power into her. I take one long look around at the battle behind us, but it’s no longer a battle. I notice the hybrids have left except one. He was currently being taken down by Zane.
My eyes float over to where Daniel still lays and my heart aches. My power falters and Leia screams out in pain.
Izzy fusses, “Garrett, more power. She’s weakening and there’s so much blood coming out. He’s still stuck.”
I rip my gaze away from Daniel and focus on Leia again. I feel a hand on my shoulder a minute later and realize it’s Zane. He is pouring what power he can back into me. “Use me, brother. We’ll help her.”
I close my eyes and focus. My wolf calls out to our young. Little one, it’s time to come into the world.
His wolf answers my call. He might be dormant, but he is still there waiting for the day he’ll be free to shift. Suddenly, Leia gathers her strength to push and lets out an anguished cry.
Izzy gets excited. “This is it. He’s moving. Keep doing what you’re doing.”
I push more power into both of them while coaxing our pup. After about five minutes, I hear his cries and Izzy can pull him free.
She wraps him in a cloth and hands him to me. “Oh no, no you don’t. Leia, stay with me.”
I look over at my mate, our son crying in my arms, unsure of what to do. Her eyes are fluttering, and I notice all the blood. “She’s losing too much.”
Izzy looks down and then back at me. “Some blood is natural, but this is a lot. We need the healer.”
I look around at my gathered enforcers, “Somebody get the healer. Now.”
I shift our newborn son in my arms. “It’s okay. Mommy is okay. We’ll get her help. You just took a lot out of her.” I reach over and grab her head and start pumping what power I can into her again, but it doesn’t seem to be working. “Don’t you dare do this to me, Leia. You hang on.”
Her eyes blankly look at me, then at our son. She faintly smiles, as if accepting her fate that this is the last time she will see us.
“No, you are not leaving us like this. You’re just twenty-one. You have so much ahead of you.” Tears line my eyes. “I will not lose you.”
I lean down and kiss her forehead, but I can feel her struggle as she gasps for breath.
“Coming through. Move out of the way. Healer on a mission.” I look over to see Laurance pushing through the pack members and I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Hurry, she isn’t going to hold on much longer.” Izzy almost screams at him.
He finally falls to his knees and gets to work. I watch as Leia’s eyes close and the only way I can tell that she is alive is by the shallow rise and fall of her chest.
Our son quietens before falling asleep in my arms. I’m not really sure what to do with him. I know he’ll need to be fed, but I have no idea how.
Laurance works fast and after a few minutes, he seems satisfied. “She just lost too much blood. I’ve stopped everything and cleaned her up. We need to transport her back and let her rest. She’ll recover and be just fine.”
“Thank you.” I look over Leia’s body, wondering how close she actually was to death’s door. I feel utterly shell shocked as I take her in. My eyes finally drift over to the blood on the ground around her legs. It looks like so much and the tears freely fall.
I feel Zane clap me on the back. “It’s all going to be okay.” He leans down and looks over at his nephew. “He looks just like you, black hair and all.”
I look back to Leia and almost wish he had her fiery red hair. I take a finger and rub it across his little face. He scrunches it up and yawns. When he opens his eyes briefly, I catch faint traces of blue in his eyes.
“You are the perfect blend of me and your mom.”
Samson falls back asleep in my arms, completely content and as if a battle just hadn’t happened while he was coming into this world.
I look up at Zane. “How many did we lose?”
Zane looks around at the pack members and Alarick’s men. After a head count, he replies, “None. Most of the hybrids ran right after you killed Daniel. Izola got out of here rather quickly. Some guy went out the back door and was impossibly fast. There’s not a trace of them except for the dead ones here.”
