Chapter Thirty-Six
We cleared the tent and ran into Toya. “Are you okay?” I snagged her chin and tilted her face for a better look. The cut on her face was healing as I watched, and the worry I had disappeared.
She grinned. “Yeah. My family just got back from hunting down some runners. We just came back to check in before we went for another run.” She looked around. “Everything good here?”
I shook my head once. “I’ll send Nix to you to explain. We are heading back to the pack house.” I sighed. I grabbed her arm once. “Stay safe until we get back.”
She tilted her head and nodded once. “Be safe.”
I smiled at her, then I shifted into Nix and started running. Megan…go tell Toya everything. She took off before I hit the trees.
Erubus caught up with me, and we ran to the pack house in silence. “We are heading back to Vince’s pack, right?”
I nodded once. “They have a med building, and I’m sure they have a huge stock of what we need.” I called over to him. “Plus…”
“Plus what?”
“It gives me a second to check in on Alannah.” We ran past the pack house, and something I couldn’t put my finger on had my hackles raising.
“What the fuck is that?” Rowan’s voice was a soft whisper from his wolf’s mouth as he sidled up next to me.
“Nothing good.” I kept running. “But something we will have to check on later.” I headed straight to the gazebo and shifted back into my human form as I stepped next to the panel. Rowan was right behind me. “Let’s go.”
We ran back under the gazebo and up the stairs to the cliff. I ran straight through the front door and up the stairs. “Amy!” I heard Shelly call after me in confusion, but Carly’s soft voice called after us.
“She has to save people.”
I ran into the room to find Alannah still in labor, drenched in sweat. “You’ve got this, baby.” Ternen was still there, holding her softly, and my heart lurched. My mom looked up, confused by the sudden interruption.
“Why are you back?” She sat back. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing you need to worry about right now. Just take care of everyone here, and I will handle the rest.” I ran past her to the closest and Rowan followed close behind me.
“Sorry, guys.” He tossed out as he ran by, and I almost laughed.
We pushed into my old room, and I continued out. Rowan stopped in the closest for a second, which made me turn back. “What are you doing?”
He was rustling around in the closest. He came out with two duffel bags in his hands. “I figured we would need something to carry everything.”
I nearly smacked myself. “You’re right.” I smiled as I held out my hand, taking a bag from him.
“Let’s go.” We ran down the stairs of my old home and out the front door into…
chaos. People were running around lost. Someone was crying.
A child was on the ground with blood on their hands.
“What the fuck is going on?” I grabbed the child from the ground. “Celia, where is your mom?”
The little girl shook her head. “I don’t know. Everyone is going crazy.”
Rowan started down the street towards the pack house. “Why?”
Celia sniffled. “The Alpha and Beta are missing.”
We looked at each other, and I winced. “I’ll send out a mind-link.” He nodded and then headed to the pack house. Oakenfang! All pack members come to the pack house front steps. There will be an announcement. Be there in fifteen minutes.
There was almost a sigh of relief that rippled down the mind-link. Then there was a murmur of agreement. Yes, Alpha Amy.
I turned to Rowan. “We have fifteen minutes.” He nodded. We hit the pack house quickly and found a wolf screaming.
“Has anyone seen my pup?” She was near hysterical.
“Mena.” I called out and held up Celia.
“Amy! Thank the goddess.” She ran over. “Where did you run off to?” She grabbed Celia from me. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Celia shook her head. “Whose blood is this?” She turned to me, but I held my hands.
“I found her outside my house like this.”
“I thought Alpha Amy might help daddy.” She wiped at her nose. “Everyone kept screaming at him, and someone punched his nose.” She wiped at her hands. “I ran to find her.”
Mena sagged in relief. “Your father is fine, baby girl. He’s looking for you.” She turned to me. “Thank you.”
“No worries. Be here for the announcement.” Then I sprinted off to the right. Rowan followed me to the medical building. We ran through the front door and I started calling out for someone. “Luke! Anyone here!” I heard footsteps coming down the hall.
“Amy? What’s wrong? Who’s hurt?” Luke jogged around the corner, already looking for an injury.
“No one here.” I grabbed him. “I need your entire stock of lupine solution.”
“What, why?”
“Don’t ask stupid questions, Luke.” Rowan stepped up next to me, and Luke finally noticed him.
“Rowan!” He took a few steps, and they were hugging. “It’s been too long.”
Rowan smiled. “Yeah, it has been, but listen to my mate. Lupine solution. We can catch up after everything has been settled.” Luke nodded.
“Come on back.” He turned and headed back down the hall. “This is actually perfect. The pack is in complete disarray, and we could use an Alpha to calm people down.”
I nodded. “We have a meeting at the pack house in like ten minutes to address everything.” An idea blossomed in my mind. “Actually, after we grab everything, can you come with us?”
Luke opened a door and started down rows of supplies. “Of course.” He looked at me for a second. “Why?”
I smiled as I started to fill the duffle with the bags he started pulling from the shelf. “I just need your help with something.”
Once both bags were full and Vince’s pack was completely drained of lupine solution, we all headed out of the med building. Luke locked the door behind us, and when I tilted my head watching him, he scratched the back of his neck.
“Everyone else is already at the pack house waiting for the meeting. I guess I just locked it out of habit.” The tips of his ears turned a soft pink as I turned away.
Rowan shifted, and I heard a soft smack that was followed by an indignant yelp. “Don’t flirt with my mate, Luke. You’re my friend, and I’d hate to kill you.” That made me smile as I started toward the pack house.
“I wasn’t.” Luke tried to deny it, but Rowan just grunted as they both followed me. He cleared his throat. “I assume you need the lupine solution urgently, so why are you having a meeting at the pack house?”
I puffed out my lips as I thought of my father’s pack. “We do. But as a Alpha of this pack, I also have to worry about the wolves here.” I looked over my shoulder as we turned onto the street of the pack house. Chaos still reigned here.
“What the fuck is going on?” Luke’s eyes widened when he saw the mess. Wolves were bleeding. A few were still fighting. There were a pair of males in the back half shifted, and taking swipes at each other.
Rowan sighed. “This is why we needed to do this. And quickly.” I nodded before I released my aura.
The ones not fighting dropped to their knees.
The few still fighting resisted the power because they felt like they were in danger.
I turned to the two males beside me. “Go break them up.” Rowan and Luke nodded and ran off as I grabbed both bags and made my way to the steps.
Everyone watched me as I pushed out my aura.
My Alpha aura kept them on their knees, but my Gamma abilities kept them calm.
“Oakenfang!” I called out, and most bowed their heads.
I waited until the fight was over, and the rest dropped to their knees.
“One day without an Alpha and you all turn to this?” I lifted my brow and my lip.
The older people had the decency to look ashamed.
“Where is Alpha Vince?”
“Where is Beta Morgan?”
“Where the hell are Brandon and Shannon?” Confused voices shouted out question after question.
I dropped the bags at my feet and crossed my arms. “You are so desperate for the Alpha that farmed you like cattle?”
“What are you talking about?” An elder of the pack called out, and I allowed her to stand.
“What is going on here, Amy? Are you forcibly taking over the pack, the King and council will stop you.” I pointed behind her, and Rowan started my way.
I waited for Rowan to join me at the front before I answered anything else.
“My King? What is going on here?” She bowed her head in reverence.
Rowan raised his hands to quiet the murmurs that started as soon as people realized who he was.
“Listen, we don’t have time to explain it all.
But those of you with young pups, please enlighten the others of this pack.
Just know that Alpha Vince, Beta Morgan, and Alpha Brandon have all been taken into custody for the crimes that they have committed here. ”
“Where is the Gamma?”
I shook my head. “Dead.” Another gasp rippled through the crowd.
“Who is taking over?” Someone called out.
“What are we going to do?” Another called.
“Are we being moved? Taken over? What is going to happen to our homes, our schools?” Panic was setting in.
Rowan pinched the bridge of his nose. He looked at me. “We don’t have time for this.”
I raised my hands. “Calm Oakenfang.” I sent out another burst of calming aura.
Everyone quieted. “Since this is fairly new, we don’t have the answers yet.
But no one is moving. No one is transferring unless you request it.
And no one will lose their jobs or positions.
” I watched them settle. “Luke, join us up here, please.”
Luke made his way through the crowd, confused. Once he joined us, I waved him forward. “What did you need?” He stared at me as I pulled him in front of me.