Chapter 57: Chapter 29

NATALIE

It’s great being back in my room. I had a great sleep and Damon was in my dreams the entire time. Now, I actually get to be with him.

After dressing, I rush down the stairs and start making breakfast. I plan on making Belgium waffles with strawberries and whipped cream. I get the batter ready then go for the strawberries, but there’s not nearly enough. I grab my shoes and rush to the greenhouse. I hope Damon doesn’t wake up early. The sun is just rising and the warmth feels good on my skin.

The greenhouse is empty and I remember exactly where the strawberries are. The plant looks bare but that’s okay. My palms glow with a green light and the strawberries begin to sprout.

“Hey, you’re back. I heard the exciting news. Welcome to the family,” Mateo Ramirez grabs my attention and I let my power go to turn around and face him. He opens his arms for a hug and welcomes me back.

“Hi! Yeah, I’m the luckiest girl in the world. I rode back with the Archers yesterday. I came to get some strawberries, but…” I point out the empty vines.

“They’re not a summer plant, well that variety,” the guy I recognize as Owen says from over Mateo’s shoulder.

“I noticed. Hi, I’m Natalie.”

He nods but keeps his hands at his sides. “Owen. I’m sure you already know that. I’m a bit of a pariah now.”

“I’m sure that can change with time,” Mateo advises, and I believe him, especially knowing Damon and how good he is.

“I don’t think it will.” Mateo grunts and falls to the ground with a knife in his back.

“Mateo!” I throw a gust of wind at Owen, knocking him through the glass door, then kneel beside Mateo. ~“Damon! Owen stabbed Mateo! We’re at the greenhouse!”~

“It’s okay, Mateo. Just stay still.” I grasp the handle and place my other hand beside the stab wound. Mateo struggles to breathe with the blade buried deep in his lung.

I begin to slowly pull the blade and heal the damage to his lung. I get the blade almost completely out when a hand covers my face, and with two breaths, I can no longer keep my eyes open.

DAMON

Natalie’s screams get me to my feet and I rush out of my office and to the greenhouse. ~“I’m coming, Natalie. Pop, hang on. I’m on my way.”~

There’s silence from their end, then finally my dad links me. ~“He took her. He knocked her out and took her.”~

~“Marlena, get to the greenhouse now! My dad has been stabbed. Finn, greenhouse now! Freya, are you on duty?”~

~“No, Alpha. Geoff is.”~

~“I need you both at the greenhouse.”~

The glass door is shattered and my dad is laying on the ground. “Pop! Marlena is on her way, just stay still, don’t move.”

Freya and Geoff are the first to arrive. “Alpha?”

“Keep my dad still. Marlena is on her way.”

“I’m here, Alpha. I got him,” Marlena takes over. “It’s not deep, he’ll be all right, Alpha.”

Finn rushes through the door. I get to my feet. “The son of a bitch tried to kill my dad and he took my mate. Freya and Geoff, assist Marlena, then catch up to us at the witches’ dungeon. Finn, let’s go.”

I strip and plow through the woods. Finn is on my flank and there’s no question as to where Owen is taking her. Natalie’s link breaks and I growl, then charge faster to get to her.

I check the link to my dad and I know he’s strong. I let go of any worry about him, but I notice someone else is missing. Spencer? His link is no longer there, but his family is still here. ~“Marlena, where is Spencer?”~

~“Alpha. My son took off. He left a note saying he’s desperate for his mate.”~ Her voice breaks and I can tell how hurt and worried she is.

~“I’m sorry, Marlena.”~ This doesn’t feel right. Spencer has never obsessed over his mate. ~“Marlena, did something happen? This doesn’t sound like the Spencer I know.”~

~“He was with Owen yesterday. He came back really upset. Samuel said he went straight to his room and didn’t come out. When I went in this morning, he was gone and so was his link.”~

Shit. What the hell did Owen do to him?

~“Damon, you can’t go down there.”~ Finn pulls me from my thoughts.

~“Like hell I can’t. That’s my mate down there.”~

~“And your pack link will break. I think that may be his plan. Don’t go down there, let me. You can bring me back. It’s no big deal for me.”~

I snarl as we finally reach the structure. I should’ve just let Realta burn the damned thing down when I had the chance. Finn blocks me from rushing down the stairs. ~“I’m serious, Damon. Think about the pack, we need you.”~

~“I’ve been down there once before. I can’t cross any of the runes.”~

Snarling from the shadows makes my hair stand on end. ~“Freya, Geoff, get here now. We’re not alone.”~

~“We’re almost there, Alpha.”~

A wolf, that I recognize as the first of my challengers, steps out of the dungeon followed by three more. They all submitted. I guess now we know to where they ran off, cowards. ~“Freya, Geoff, we have four of my challengers. Finn, there were two more, keep your eyes open.”~

I growl as the four rogues circle me and Finn. ~”This is going to be fun.”~ I would roll my eyes at Finn’s sarcasm if I could, but I’m focused on the two that gave me the most trouble during our fights. Finn and I stay on the offensive, just waiting for them to move, but also allowing more time for my backup. One of the wolves swipes and the battle royale is on.

Finn and I both take on two wolves, which isn’t terrible, especially since I’ve fought them before and I’m ready for their wild swings. I dodge a swing and rush in for the throat, catching him off guard and snapping in one movement. The two wolves I knew were hiding rush at me, but Geoff and Freya arrive and take them on. The second wolf I’m taking on swipes at me, catching my torso. I spin on him and catch his shoulder. He squirms out of my grasp, then rushes toward the dungeon. I pull him back and swipe at his side. He spins, but I catch his head and crush down.

I throw a wolf from Finn’s back and rush him. He snarls, then tries to get a grip on my shoulder. I move and catch his neck and shake. I drop his lifeless body and look at my pack. Finn finishes off the other guy. Freya and Geoff both have their opponents down.

They all huddle up to find out the game plan. ~“I can’t cross any of the runes inside the dungeon. There are spells that will break any bonds I have, including alpha connections. Owen is a tricky little fucker and we have no idea how many more are down there. I want to tear Owen apart with my bare hands, but getting Natalie is more important.”~

~“I’ll go, Alpha.”~ they all volunteer.

~“We’re all going down there,”~ Finn growls, and I know he doesn’t want me down there. ~“I’ll stay within the corridor. If anything happens to me, Finn, you’re in charge of the pack.”~

~“It won’t come to that because you’re not leaving the hall.”~

I groan, but I did say that. I lead the way down the stairs and pass the cell Kya was in. We pass two more cells, then arrive at a set of stairs.

~“I’ll go first,”~ Finn volunteers.

“Let me go first, Alpha.”~ Geoff grabs my attention. ~“I’m only tied to Freya and the pack. Finn has more family.”~

I nod my agreement, then tell Finn to pull back. Geoff reaches the bottom of the stairs and his link stays intact, so we continue. A snarl sounds from the other side of the corridor.

Spencer’s wolf is locked in a cell and pacing back and forth. There are runes on the floor of the cell. I shift to tell Spencer we’re coming back for him.

Spencer shifts and pulls on his clothes. “Damon. It’s Owen. He’s been down there this whole time. I don’t think he knows you’re here. He brought me here last night and shoved me in this cell. It broke all of my bonds. He told me his plan to get Natalie, thinking I would help him. I didn’t want to go against my friend, but Owen is wrong, so I came after him to try to knock some sense into him. Natalie is down those stairs with Owen and another rogue. I guess he can’t be alone with a female.”

Finn snorts a laugh, but the seriousness of the situation makes us all push on to the next set of stairs. Geoff takes the first step and his link snaps. Freya and I both flinch. I stop Finn before he can take the step. ~“Finn, stop. Geoff’s link broke.”~

Freya growls. ~”We got this, Alpha. Even without our bond, we know how to fight together.”~ Geoff looks to Freya as if he already knows what she’s telling me. Freya’s wolf goes down the step and the two rush forward.