Chapter 21: Chapter 21

DEC

Growls and snarls wake me. I look at my surroundings and remember where I am. “Ky, wake up. We have company.” We both shift and look around.

“~Alpha, we have more rogues,~” Bruno calls for me.

“~Kya. Stay here or get into the truck. We have rogues. I’ll call you if I need you.~” Her wolf nods and we take off in separate directions.

“~Bruno, how many?~” I ask as I rush up the riverbank and dart through the trees.

“~There’s twelve, all large~.”

I speed up and cut a path straight to Bruno’s location. “~Father, Chase, Doc, Finn. Freya, get to the western edge as quick as you can, we’ve got rogues~,” I command through our link.

I make it just in time to pull a wolf off of Bruno, sending him into another wolf that has Luke pinned. Kevin and Jase are already assisting in the fight. Before I know it, all hell breaks loose.

I growl, getting the attention of three of the rogues. They launch at me; I duck and claw and bite as quickly and accurately as possible. Finn and Freya break through the clearing and jump into action. It’s complete chaos.

I have no clue who is doing what; all I know is my guys are all still alive. Father and Chase join in taking on anyone they can reach. Fur and blood are flying everywhere.

Father drops two rogues almost as soon as he reaches them. I get a hold on a head and clamp down. I drop him and move on to the next. Chase and Bruno each drop more rogues.

I can finally see what’s happening. Jase is hurt, but still pushing on. Luke is on the ground, but I can feel he’s still alive. Father takes a big gash to his haunch. Bruno gets a chunk pulled from his shoulder.

“~Kya. I’m going to need you. Get here, but stay back until I tell you,~” I mind-link my mate.

Freya drops a rogue as does Kevin. I drop two more. I hear a whimper and turn to see Kevin take a swipe to the gut. I get a hold on that bastard rogue and rip his throat out. Doc makes it to the clearing and heads straight to Luke.

“~Kya, help Kevin,~” I say.

Pauly drops a rogue. Freya takes out her opponent. Chase takes out the last one and we all drop to the ground to catch our breaths.

Kya finishes up with Kevin and heads to Jase, then to Father to heal his leg.

Finn and Chase are carrying Kevin out. Luke is carried out by Father. Pauly is helping Jase to Doc's truck. Kya moves on to Freya. Doc rushes over to Bruno to heal his shoulder.

Kya reaches me. She turns me on my side. Her hands lie on my back and warmth spreads through me. She pushes me back down and her hands move to the inside of my leg, then to my shoulder.

I push myself up and pull her to me. My hand holds her face to my chest as my other hand soothes her back. Her arms wrap around me as we catch our breaths. My fingers tangle in her hair as I kiss her sweet lips.

I leave the truck with Kya at home then head to the hospital. I reassign the guards and let Chase get back to his mate.

Luke took a blow to the head and Jase had damage to his ribs. Kya got to Kevin in time to heal his stomach and liver. They are all recovering in the infirmary.

“Declan. These rogue attacks are getting out of control, son,” Father says.

I nod to my father. “I’m aware. They also have a leader sending them in. Rogues don’t usually form groups that large. The last attack was instigated by Roberts’s pup. The little bastard wants Kya.”

Father runs his hand over his beard. “Have you contacted Roberts?”

I shake my head. “Not recently. He wasn’t cooperative when I did speak to him.” I stay at the hospital a little longer.

I check the time. Shit, Kya already left for school. I’ll be taking her from now on. There’s no way I want that piece of shit near her.

KYA

I’m alone this morning as I drive to school. With Alana having her heat, she’ll be gone for a few days. I hope it works out for them. She said they didn’t want to wait to have pups.

Owen is front and center when I pull into the parking lot, but Damon, Bianca, and Spencer are right behind him. I refuse to look at Owen; I know he’s been behind these attacks. I walk right past him without a word.

Spencer wraps his arm around my shoulder as we walk into the school. “Where’s Alana today?” We make it to my locker.

“She’s at home. She got her heat, so she’ll be out for a few days.”

Spencer grabs his books and Owen runs his hand across my hair as he walks by. I growl and spin on him, but he’s already down the hall. Spencer didn’t see it and continues talking. “Melissa got hers on Saturday.”

Talking about heats is common for wolves; there’s no shame in it like the way humans deal with periods, and it's sad that it’s a taboo topic for humans.

Anyway, it makes sense that Lan and Melissa are having their heat at the same time, since they both met their mates at the ball and mated right away.

Spencer and I make it to our classroom and take our seats. It looks like two other she-wolves are also missing. The teachers know and don’t bat an eye. They understand.

I make it to my next class before Damon. He drops his book on his desk before sitting next to me. His jaw clenches. My brows crease as I look him over. “What’s up with you?”

He looks at me with a sneer on his face. “Owen. I swear he’s going to start a war between our packs. I know about what happened last night. Owen told me about it this morning. I don’t know where he’s finding the rogues.”

I rub my temples trying to soothe the ache in my head. Last night’s excitement left me exhausted and with the little sleep I’ve had, I’m barely functional. “Does he know you’re telling me this?”

Damon shakes his head. “No. He’s too self-centered to think his beta would ever go behind his back. I need to spend more time training with Dec. I need to be ready to take over the pack.”

I nod. “Of course. You know you’re welcome any time.”

Damon escorts me to my next class as a sort of bodyguard.

Owen sits in the desk next to me. There’s a minute before class starts so I move to an empty seat. He turns his chair so he can watch me. My hair stands to attention at the nape of my neck and I shiver the bad vibes away.

The bell finally rings and I rush to the door. The new pack pups, led by Virgil, surprise me outside my classroom. They are waiting for me. “Hey, guys.”

They lift their chins in respect. “Luna.”

They surround me, forming a barrier around me as we walk to the cafeteria. Their concern for me touches my heart and eases my worries. I half wonder if Dec said something, but I know they don’t share a link with him.

Damon and Bianca accompany me to my pack after school. They unload their backpacks and walk with me to the training center.

Today is training for the guards. It’s more intense and militaristic. Yesterday was training for everyone else. Dec is barking out orders to a guy named Greg. He’s distracted and unfocused. A guard named Laura throws him to the ground and pins him.

Dec pulls him up and pulls him aside to speak to him. He glances in my direction and beckons me over with his finger. I put my things down and head over. “What’s up?”

Greg looks at me with pleading eyes. “It’s Lily. She’s been really sick. I’m worried about her, but she says it’s nothing. She refuses to go see the doc.”

I feel for him. His wife is hurting and there’s nothing he can do to help her. “Would you like me to check on her?”

He nods. “Please, Luna. She’s at the pack house.”

I transmit some comforting energy his way as I pat his arm. “I’ll go over now.” Dec nods and I head out the door.

The pups are running wild when I arrive at the pack house. Miss Regina is trying to wrangle the little boy, D. Little Christy is throwing a tantrum, and there are a few pups crying for whatever reason.

I put my fingers to the bottom of my tongue and give a sharp whistle. Everyone stops what they’re doing and turns my direction. “This is not the behavior of a pack.” I cross my arms over my chest.

“Virgil, get control of your brother. Natalie, help out little Christy. Anna, Kenny, and Johnny, help Miss Regina with the crying pups. Tyler, Hanna, Jason, and Abel get busy on cleanup and dinner prep. You all need to step up and work together if you want to stay in this pack.”

They all answer with a “yes, Luna,” and get right to work.

Miss Regina walks my way with outstretched arms. “The pack listens to you now. I’m glad you dropped by. I’ve never seen Declan so happy. I have you to thank for that. I finally have a daughter-in-law.”

I giggle and return her hug. “Where’s Lily?”

Miss Regina shakes her head. “I don’t know. It’s been too crazy. I don’t even know where Troy ran off to.”

I look around the room, but I don’t see her. “I’ll look around.” I find her in the laundry room slowly folding clothes. “Lily?”

She looks up with a sweet smile. “Hello, Luna.”

I pull a chair to her. “Have a seat.”

She sits down and lets out an uncomfortable breath. “I know why you’re here. I’m just tired.”

I pull up a chair beside her for myself. “That may be, but I would like to check and make sure. May I touch your belly?”

She takes a breath then nods. I place my hands over the lower part of her abdomen. I close my eyes and let her energy fill me up. Her body is fine, so I feel deeper to the pup.

Two little energies are bouncing around in her womb. I dig deeper into their surroundings. Two sacs. I send a little bit of loving energy to the three of them and open my eyes.

“You’re not just tired, you’re exhausted. The little guys are taking a lot from you. Eat more often and rest whenever you can. I’ll have Dec replace you here.”

She shakes her head. “Oh, no. I like it here. But maybe adding another person to help out would be nice. Wait…did you say ‘guys’? As in plural?”

I giggle with a nod. “Yep, mama. There’s two in there and they’re fraternal.

“I gave the older pups jobs to do, hopefully they will help out more when Alpha Troy isn’t around to keep them in line. If not, just have me or Dec come over and we’ll deal with them.”

She giggles and wraps her arms around me. “Thank you, Luna.”

Everyone is already battling it out when I make it back to the training center. Damon is facing off with Alpha Troy. Dec greets me with a kiss on the top of my head as I walk in. “Hey, beautiful. How is Lily?”

I smile up at him. “She’s exhausted. Carrying twins will do that to a body.”

Both of his eyebrows rise. “I bet. Go ahead and work with Chaz today.”

This time, my brows raise. “Are you punishing me for something?”

He chuckles but shakes his head. “If I wanted to punish you, I would do it in the bedroom.”

I smack his shoulder as my face heats up. “Declan Redd!”

He laughs loudly. “I told you I want you to become a better fighter. Get over there and get working.” I turn toward Chaz and receive a playful smack to my ass. I look over my shoulder with a growl. Dec winks at me and I start walking away.

Chaz is huge. He is a monster of a wolf. He’s about six feet two and massively wide, with thick, rippling muscles. He’s slower than Freya, but really strong.

I’m pretty sure he’s holding back, afraid to hurt the luna. Still, I get my butt kicked repeatedly. Dec makes his rounds checking in on the combatants. Eventually he’s staring me down as I maneuver myself away from Chaz.

He gives me pointers and tells me how to use my body against an opponent that is bigger than me because, let’s face it, that would be everyone.

He then has me work on escaping situations where I’m being held in various manners. Dec wraps up training and I head home with Bianca while Damon stays for more training.

“This whole situation is crazy,” Bianca tells me as we make dinner.

I rip some lettuce and contemplate everything that has been happening. “Yeah, it is. I can’t help but think that it’s all my fault. Do you think I led Owen on?”

She shakes her head. “No way. We all knew you just rejected your mate. Then, you were sick for weeks before finding out you were still mates. Owen should have backed off right away. Actually, he should have never pursued you.”

We set the table just as Dec, Damon, and Finn make it through the door. “Hey, beautiful.”

I smile as Dec pulls me in his embrace. Finn kisses Bianca gently with a hand on her cute little face. Damon ignores us all and just pulls up a chair.

We eat dinner together and discuss the goings-on of the Roberts pack. Dec holds my hand as we eat. Finn and Bianca are really sweet together. Their personalities complement each other perfectly, as mates should.

After dinner, Dec wraps his arm around me and says, “Damon wants to stay tonight.”

I nod, “Sure. Do they need clothes for tomorrow?”

He shakes his head. “They brought things in the hope I would allow them to stay.” I giggle and shake my head.

Dec, Finn, and Damon take off for patrol while Bianca and I stay behind. I take a bubble bath, then turn in for the night.