29. Twenty-Eight

Twenty-Eight

Sloane

Once both packs realized Alpha Dane was dead, the fighting ended quickly. Those that didn't surrender met a quick death as their own comrades turned on them.

The fighting was over. We'd won. I should be happy, but all I could think about was Brandon and everyone else that wouldn't be coming home.

Had we really won at all?

I walked numbly through the grass. Instead of green, it was painted red. Bodies were strewn across the landscape. Some were friendly other's enemies. All of their faces were twisted in horror.

I wrapped my arms around my middle as I limped toward what was left of the house. The heat of the flames warmed the frosty air.

I drew in a shuddering breath. The two-story house was leveled. Anyone that had been inside when it went up was gone.

I sniffled as tears blurred my vision. I'd lost another brother. And I was going to have to tell my mom that she lost another son.

I covered my mouth to stifle my sob. Oh Brandon. You were so brave up until the end.

He'd done so much to make sure that we were successful. He should have been here to see it through. He'd never get to go to school like he wanted.

A strangled sob escaped, and I squeezed my eyes shut as I cried.

Lincoln came up behind me and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let him go in there to plant that evidence."

I bit my lip and choked back more tears. "It's not your fault. He wanted to." I turned, burying my face in Lincoln's chest. "At least tell me that everything he did wasn't for nothing."

Lincoln pulled me tighter. I inhaled his scent as he rubbed his hand up and down my arm. He made a shushing noise. "It wasn't for nothing. I promise. He put a lot of information to incriminate my father on the web and in his cloud version of the books. I don't see how it wouldn't hold up in court if it even gets to that."

I ran the back of my hand across my eyes, swiping away some of my tears, but it didn't clear my blurry vision."That's good."

At least he didn't die for nothing. I just wish that things had been different. That he could be here with us to crack his nerdy jokes and follow his dreams.

I promised him that I'd let him do what he wanted. Maybe I couldn't keep that promise to him, but I'd make darn sure that everyone in the pack had the opportunity to follow their dreams. That's how I would honor him.

Sawyer hobbled toward us, coughing as he approached. "We shouldn't go any further. The fires hot and there's nothing you want to see there, Sloane."

Maybe it was silly of me, but there was a part of me that thought if I went down to the rubble I'd find him sitting on a brick or something. It didn't feel like he was gone. Not like it had with Dad and Darrin. I half expected to see him come waltzing out what was left of the front steps and we all would have a good laugh.

Sawyer tugged on my elbow. "Sloane don't."

He circled his arms around me too so I was safely sandwiched between the both of them.

I cried until my mouth was dry and no more tears would come. It didn't stop the shudder in my chest or the hole that had been created that would never be filled again.

Lincoln kissed my neck. "We should check in on everyone again and address the pack." He glanced over his shoulder. "Most of the injured have already been tended to. I think we're ready to move out when you are ready."

Right because I was the alpha. Everyone was looking to me. I didn't have the luxury of grieving like the others. I had to be strong, even if I was breaking inside.

I puffed out my cheeks and let out a slow breath.

You can do this, Sloane. You have to. Everyone's looking at you. Stay strong for just a bit longer.

I swallowed and wiped my face with the back of my sleeve as best I could. I was sure I still looked a mess and was glad that I didn't have a mirror to confirm it.

My gaze fell on Sawyer. He was the most injured out of all of us. The gauze, or what was left of it was grass stained and had dirt all over it. Plus the blood and pus that had eased out staned it making it absolutely disgusting.

I put a hand on his shoulder. "We should get you out now. Back home so my mom can have a proper look at you."

He looked over his shoulder and shook his head. "I'm okay for now. Let's get some of the rest of the people that are hurt out of here first."

I gave him a peck on the cheek and then turned to Lincoln and did the same. I met Lincoln‘s gaze. "Make sure he gets tended to, even if you do it yourself. I'm going to address the pack."

Lincoln bowed his head. "You know I will."

I grabbed both of their hands with mine. "I love you both. We're gonna make it through the rest of this together."

Finally, the three of us would have our chance to all be under one roof with no one to stop us.

We could celebrate that later. Now wasn't the time. Not with so much death and destruction around us.

I gave them both a tight-lipped smile and then made my way back to the rest of the pack.

The group quieted to hushed whispers when they saw me approaching. Those who were attending to the wounded glanced my way, momentarily freezing.

I ran a hand over my snarled hair. "Alpha Dane has been defeated. But with any battle, there is always a cost."

I licked my lips swallowed, doing my best not to burst into tears again. "I'm sure we all knew someone who lost their life on the battlefield today. And I'm sorry that we all don't get to go home."

Leo got up from where he was assisting one of the women. "Is it true that not everyone was here?"

I laced my fingers together at my waist. "It is true. Before Alpha Dane succumbed to us, he mentioned that he sent his second in command off. There is reason to believe that some of his pack is still out there and may try to follow in his footsteps."

The crowd murmured. I held my hands up, and they silenced. "My hope is that they haven't gone far, and that we will be able to track them easily to ensure anyone who got away doesn't have the chance to rebuild again."

I swallowed thinking of what my dad would do right now. Luna he'd always been so good at speaking on a whim. "I know many of you agreed to help until Alpha Dane was defeated, and of course, if you wish to leave and return to your home or your pack you are free to do so." I hesitated a moment, gazing out at the crowd, hoping I wasn't asking too much. "I would ask though, if you'd like, for some to stay to help us, to ensure that the threat no longer exists."

I cleared my throat. "Nothing has to be decided right now. We have wounded that we must tend to and plenty of medical supplies. All I am asking now is for some volunteers to see if they can track Drake the second in command and any remaining members of the pack."

I already asked so much of these men. I half expected some of them to laugh in my face. I shouldn't have, though. Because a few dozen men and women stepped forward, kneeling before me. Even though the rest of the pack didn't step forward, they kneeled too, and all said Alpha in unison.

I scanned over them. My heart fluttering at their willingness to help me see this through to the end.

"I appreciate everyone of you for volunteering. I would like to break you into two groups, if that's all right. One led by Leo and the other by Ian."

Everyone stood and moved into almost two evenly spread out groups.

This was going better than I thought it would. "Thank you again. Please, both of you keep me informed of what you find."

The men and women filed out, making their way to the cars, that Luna only knew who had taken the time to bring and line up along the far end of driveway, far away from the fire.

I turned back to everyone else. "Let's work on getting everyone ready so we can head home and get everyone proper medical care that needs it. If anyone needs anything at all, please let me know and I'll make sure it is done."

Everyone went back to work. I stared for a minute, watching. With all the new people we picked up from the compound I couldn't tell how many men we lost. But there were multiple black shirts on the ground. I said a silent prayer for them to be protected wherever they may be now.

Willa came up to me fidgeting with her hands and not quite meeting my eyes. "I'm sorry about Sawyer. I promise I tried to stop him."

I waved her off and pulled her into an embrace. "I know you did. He's so stubborn."

She laughed out loud. Thank you Sloane. Thank you for making sure that we can be safe."

I smoothed my hand up and down her back. "I owe you a thank you for taking care of Sawyer, even if you didn't listen to your directions."

Willa pulled back and gave me an appraising look. "Has anyone taken a look at you yet, Sloane? You've been through quite the ordeal, too."

Now that the excitement of the fight and the grief had turned into a hollow ache, I was starting to feel the pains of my injuries. I didn't think it was severe.

"It's nothing that can't wait until later. There are others who are hurt worse than me."

Willa pressed her lips together into a thin line. "I know. I've been tending to them as best I can."

I looked over her shoulder, but didn't see Jacob. "Where is Jacob? Is he okay?"

He had to be. She would be a blubbering mess on the ground if he wasn't. But I still needed to ask.

The beam that split her face was all I needed to know. "He's fine. No serious injuries, thank goodness." She turned and pointed. "He found a few people from his pack that he thought had died. He's tending to them."

My heart fluttered at that. If one good thing had come out of this, we'd reunited people with their loved ones and brought peace of mind and freedom.

Willa pulled me into a hug. "I'm so sorry about Brandon. He was a good guy."

I mumbled a thanks, but wasn't really sure what else to say. Willa gave me another squeeze and then made her way back over to Jacob.

The lump in my throat was back. Tears burned my eyes. Maybe I hadn't cried myself out yet. I sniffled and chewed the inside of my cheek, not wanting to cry again.

My back pocket vibrated and it took me a minute to realize that my phone was still there and surprisingly, somehow hadn't been damaged with all the fighting.

Probably Mom wondering what was going on. I put a hand over my stomach as nausea and light headiness washed over me. I needed to check in with her.

I closed my eyes, fumbling with my phone fingers as I pulled it out to look at it.

I was going to have to tell her about Brandon. Luna, please, please help me.

I blinked my eyes open. Luna must've heard me. It wasn't Mom.

It was a notification from Brandon's phone. He was sharing his location with me right now.