97. The Betrayal Pt. 2

CHAPTER 97

The Betrayal Pt. 2

AURORA

So far, so good. Everyone is settling in well within the camp. The American Lycans are passing out water, and tonight they are in charge of cooking. Dominik and Klaus are out hunting for my dinner while I remain here to maintain order. Slowly, I extend my hands out to warm them by the fire. The flames dance, moved by the slight eastern wind that blows gently. Wolves are a funny bunch, if you ask me. If they don't have an Alpha, they go all primal and start reverting mentally to their animal base urges.

Moving back away from the flames, I move to sit on Dimitri's lap so that our pack mates take turns receiving my touch. Touch is yet another important thing for wolves to feel grounded, safe, and that they belong. Dire and Lycan alike each come and bow before me, wishing for me to touch them. A gentle stroke here, a caress there, some just wish to be close to their Alpha just for a little while. For as long as I can remember, it was Dimitri, Andre, and me; now my family has expanded a hundredfold. For the first time in forever, I feel like I am almost complete. I have my mates, children, and my pack and swarm. I'm not alone anymore.

Dominik and Klaus return with a roe deer for me and it's still warm—just the way I like it. Sliding off of Dimitri's lap, I move forward to investigate the deer that my mates brought me. Dimitri warns the others to back away because I get very possessive of my food. I strip out of my nice clothes and shift. I eat quickly, savoring every morsel. It doesn't take long for me to finish off the roe deer.

I keep a close eye on everyone that's mingling at dinner time. It's too quiet, and I hate to be the negative Nancy here, but it's too peaceful. Something makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. The air feels too still and calm for some reason. Raising my nose to the wind, I draw in all of the scents around me. Nothing seems off in that regard. A sudden chill moves down my spine as I search the camp once more.

My guys hang out; drinking, eating, and socializing with our teams. I shift back to my human form and get dressed, then come back out. It's about eleven at night, and I start noticing people moving off to go to bed. It wasn't a difficult journey, but not everyone handles stress the same as others. I go to our cooler and pour myself some water. It's been a long day, and tomorrow isn't looking much better.

Pouring several more cups of water, I pass them out to my mates. That's how it always is—the minute you get yourself something, everyone else wants what you have. We sit, watching the fire burn before us. Dominik tosses a fresh log onto the fire, and it pops and crackles as it blazes to life. The smoke keeps changing direction causing poor Klaus to keep changing his seat. For some blasted reason, it seems that the fire is following him. Laughing softly, I return to my favorite pastime of people watching. With everyone going to sleep so early tonight, maybe I might get some "lovin'" before bedtime.

I lean back against Arnulf, using him as my personal pillow, watching everyone in camp. My mates, one by one, start to yawn and become sleepy. Fucking yawns are contagious, and I start yawning right along with them.

Suddenly, I watch Alaric's eyes flash to his dragons. "Something's not right, Aurora." His voice is a whisper as he fights sleep. His movements are uncoordinated and sluggish. Alaric's eyes close, and he falls over, asleep.

I yawn again, looking at everyone, studying them. I'm fighting to keep my eyes open, and it's becoming a losing battle. We've been drugged. I try with all my remaining strength to summon Dante to rain fire down upon our assailants. He doesn't answer. Either he's dead or a victim like the rest of us. I struggle to get to my mates, to shield them from whatever may come. Sadly, I fall short and land face first in the shallow mud. I fight to open my eyes one last time; I see a man staring at me. Is this the end for me?

~Klaus — the next day~

My hands gradually slide up my face to hold my throbbing head. My mouth is dry like I had been up all night at the bar drinking the night before. What the hell happened last night? I rub my eyes, freeing them from sleep. It takes several minutes before they focus enough for me to see clearly. I look around the camp, and everyone is in different states of trying to wake up. I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone to check the time. I stare at the time far longer than I should. It's noon. We should have been on the road for six hours already.

"Aurora?" I call for my mate and receive no reply.

My heart is pounding furiously in my chest; I can't feel her like I normally do. Quickly, I stand up and shed my clothing and shift, which helps tons to clear my system and help me focus. I tilt my head back and howl, calling for Aurora's beast to respond to me. I'm cheating, using a distress howl to get her attention. Still no response. This time I howl, summoning all the Lycans in my pack and the American pack. I've never tried an Alpha move like this, but it's an emergency, and right now I need help.

My pack gradually awakens and comes to me; we're two wolves short from yesterday's headcount. Alaric and the others come running over, and I shift back to human quickly.

"Has anyone found Aurora?" My bond mates shake their heads no, and the sadness is overwhelming.

"I can't feel her..." Alaric says, rubbing the scale on his chest. "She's alive but I… I... gods, why!!" He drops to his knees, holding his head. Alaric's anguished tone pulls at our own pain and fears. Jayce is crying; his face is buried in Dominik's chest. Dimitri is trying to be strong for everyone.

"Fuck this!' I growl with the tone of my beast. "Pack, we search!" I turn to face my pack and snap them all to attention and start barking out orders. Whipping around, I look at Dom, Jayce, and Arnulf. "Arnulf, take to the skies with your people to see if you can spot tracks leading away from camp." Arnulf shifts immediately and takes off to start his search.

"Jayce, gather your packs' best trackers and give them Aurora's scent and have them circle the camp." Without regard for his clothing, Jayce shifts and takes off towards where his pack mates are to start on his mission to track Aurora. "Dominik, you and Dimitri are the muscle here; start interrogating anyone who may have had anything to do with what happened last night." I've never felt this dominant in my life. My mate needs me, and I swear to the gods I will rip the world apart to find her.