Chapter 33

Tyson's strength keeps me on my feet as I survey the chaos around us.

My wolf urges me to rub against him, covering him in her scent as a temporary replacement for the mating mark she's eager to give him. As I run my fingers over my own, I can't wait for him to bear the same.

When I lean against him and feel his hard body standing tall, there to protect me but not taking control of the situation, the pull to my fated mate is irresistible. If it weren't for the spectators, I might attempt to seduce him right here.

"Mandy?" Tyson has changed back to his human form, and his hand strokes down my back, comforting and offering support at the same time. "Look."

I'm stunned to see all six warriors waiting in silence, heads bowed. I look at Tyson to see if it's him they're showing their respect to, but it's not. Their bodies are all pointed in my direction. Clearing my throat, I stare, unsure what I'm supposed to do or say.

Tyson has no such qualms.

"Shirt. Give her your fucking shirt, right now," he growls, marching over the closet man and practically yanking his t-shirt over his head.

He tosses the stolen item of clothing in my direction, looming over the men to make sure they keep their gazes lowered while I cover up. It barely skims the bottom of my backside, but if it helps Tyson stay calm, I'll go along with it.

"You don't need to do that," I tell them, feeling uncomfortable being the focus of attention.

"Yes, we do, Luna." One man lifts his head, looking me straight in the eye, his expression pained. "It doesn't make it any better, but the alpha ordered us to come after you. Said you fled with your lover after murdering Lee and kidnapping his son."

Standing tall, another man pipes up. "We'll accept whatever punishment you deem fit."

Tyson raises an eyebrow at me and pauses, waiting to see what I'll do.

"You were obeying orders and lied to. There is no punishment. I'm trusting you to tell your pack the truth when you return and await your head alpha's instructions on what is to happen to the pack."

The men look a little confused, but don't dare argue. "No problem."

A loud whistle pierces the air, and, in no time, the warriors have gathered and left the clearing, starting the long march back to their pack's territory. As soon as they're gone, Tyson strides over quickly, pulling Lucian and Seth in for a long, back thumping man-hug.

"You did good," he mutters, emotion creeping into his voice. "Actually, you did great."

Lucian shakes his head. "We didn't keep her inside." He glances quickly in my direction, shame written all over his features. "I'm so sorry."

Tyson laughs and reaches out a hand, pulling me closer. "Did you see her fight? Sorry boys, you didn't stand a chance." Changing to a more sombre tone, he makes sure they're paying attention. "You kept yourselves alive, you did as my mate asked, and you stopped these three in their tracks before they could go after Noah. I couldn't be prouder."

Seth plonks himself at Tyson's feet and looks up with big, doleful eyes. Tyson reaches down and scruffs his hair, scratching the top of his head. The young wolf moves closer until he's practically sitting on Tyson's feet. They must have been so scared.

Kneeling down so he's face-to-face with Seth's wolf, he says seriously, "I mean it. You never have to go back there. That decision is entirely yours, okay?" Tyson stays perfectly still, waiting for his words to sink in.

"I need to see Noah and explain all of this to him." The need to see my son is overwhelming. It's one thing hearing that he's safe from Blake, it's another thing altogether to see him with my own two eyes. "Do you think you could come with us, and help me?"

Lucian and Seth look at each other, a silent conversation passing between them.

Lucian answers, standing in front of Tyson and sucking in a deep breath for courage, "We'll go if you make one promise?"

Tyson looks at me nervously, then back to the boys, his attention squarely on them. He has no idea what's coming.

"If I can do it, I will."

Lucian nods seriously, and Seth gets to his feet.

"You make things up with your brother. You could start by going to see if he needs a hand."

Immediately, Tyson's open and eager expression turns to grim resignation. In the distance, growls can still be heard as the two alphas crash through the undergrowth.

"I suppose I could." Tyson looks at me, his reluctance clear, as if I'm going to give him a way out of making sure Blake stays alive. When I tip my head in the direction of the latest loud snarls, urging him to go, Tyson sighs. "Fine."

He turns to leave, but I reach out to stop him, pulling him back for a quick kiss. Tyson grins at me, a heated look full of promise, and shifts. His huge black wolf takes off at speed while the three of us follow behind slowly, the way clearly marked by the trail of Blake's scent and spilled blood.

The dull thud of bodies colliding and vicious snarls gets louder and louder as we approach. Finally, we see them. Blake has the upper hand, Weston sprawled on the ground, crawling away in human form, bleeding heavily from his right leg. Without acknowledging our presence, Blake shifts and stands over his enemy.

"Are you going to force me to put you down, or will you submit and face your punishment like a proper alpha should?" Blake's anger is like a living, breathing thing. "Much as I'd love to kill you and forget all of this ever happened, the council will want some kind of explanation."

"Just get me the fuck out of here!" Weston hisses, grimacing. "I want a trial. It was all Wilson's plan. Even Jenna. Get the council here, and I'll tell them the truth."

Twisting his mouth in frustration, Blake looks as unconvinced as I feel but merely nods and steps back to face the boys.

"I'm sorry he frightened you. This was just a healthy rivalry between alphas until he took it too far. You never should have been caught in the middle of any of this."

Weston looks relieved that Blake is taking a measured stance and that he'll live to fight another day. Although if he faces a trial and loses, I'm not sure being thrown into a cell for the rest of your life is really living.

"The warriors are bringing back word of their alpha's demise, and will keep order until the head alpha or council arrives."

While his aura is less threatening, Blake is still far from at ease.

"The boys told me you knew all along that it was Weston trying to kill me. And that you weren't really trying to kill me." Blake stares at Tyson and for a brief, horrible moment, I think Tyson is going to deny it, that he'll continue the charade of hating his brother over some long-held grudge.

Instead, he shrugs, like torturing his brother and risking his life further by not warning him about Weston being a threat was no big deal. "You didn't think I would have taken you out the first time if that's what I was really after?"

Smug, unapologetic, and terrifyingly flippant about someone else's safety, Tyson's response is at least honest. Blake lifts his eyebrows and shakes his head, but accepts his words.

"You fuck my mate again, you ever scare her again, and that's it, I'll end you. I don't care that you were trying to find yours. There are better ways to do things."

Feeling better with that off his chest, Blake looks at me, then Tyson, and nods, seeming to make up his mind about something. "I'll go there immediately and put their minds at ease. We'll see just what else Wilson has been up to." His features are pinched. It's easy to forget that he thought this man was his friend. "Go home and rest. It's going to be a tough couple of weeks until this is all sorted out. I'll find you when I need you."

Nervous, I step forward, hands twisting in front of me. Blake is my alpha now, I should listen to what he says, but I don't want to go home.

"Noah. Blake, I need to see Noah. I won't be able to relax until I do." Rushing to convince him it'll be okay, I stammer, "Can I go to Grey Ridge? I'll go and see him, and be back in a couple of days, I promise."

Blake frowns and looks at Tyson over my shoulder. "Noah's not in Grey Ridge. Tyson sent word for him to be brought home under Matt, Max, and Raiden's protection. He's waiting for you."

With tears brimming in my eyes, I turn and launch myself at my mate. Tyson almost topples backward, caught by surprise as I bury my face in his neck and sob. It's all over. Noah's really safe. He made sure he was nowhere near trouble, and he lied to Wilson knowing it could cost him his life if things went bad.

"Shh. I told you it was all going to be okay," Tyson murmurs, stroking my hair and holding me close as all the fear and worry I've been carrying around pours out of me.

"But what about him?" Lucian asks, glaring at the bloody mess that is Alpha Weston. Seth snarls but stays beside Lucian, not keen to get close to his former leader. "What do we do with him?"

Blake clears his throat, and when he speaks, I can hear the smile in his voice. "Ah, yes. Well, you all have better places to be, and I've got another pack to keep in line. He's the council's problem now." With a laugh, he makes a loud wolf whistle, short and sharp, then falls silent.

The hairs stand up on the back of my neck as the still night air drops in temperature, a strong breeze kicking up and sending the fallen leaves skittering across the forest floor.

"You know that's rude?" The soft feminine voice has Lucian and Seth nearly jumping out of their skins. They watch, bug-eyed, as a tiny white-haired witch steps from the shadows, appearing as if from thin air. Her eyes glow bright violet as she approaches.

"Raiden?" Weston hisses, rubbing his torn neck, eyes widening in mock alarm at the blood all over his hand. "Thank God you're here. Stop him. He's lost his mind."

The witch tilts her head and tuts at him. "Give me a bit more credit than that. Nobody is going to believe your bullshit. Especially since I've been here the whole time."

"That's Raiden?" Lucian whispers, staring at her in wonder as her long, pale hair whips around the stiff wind now circling us.

"Oh, you wish it was Raiden," Blake laughs, stepping to the side to allow her through, and dipping his head in respect to the powerful witch. "This is Sharon, Raiden's older, much stronger sister, and the newest member of the council. She's the one who's going to bind your wolf until we can get you in front of a trial."

Despite already looking deathly ill, Weston visibly pales. Sharon casts a cool gaze over the rest of us, unsmiling and unbothered, before looking at Weston like a bug she'd love to swat.

"I'd prefer to just end you right now, but at least the council will make sure you languish somewhere far, far away. I might even find the time to come and visit." With a small smile, Sharon bends and eyes Weston like a cat who's caught a mouse to play with. "Go. I'll mind him until the others get here."