The Wanted Alpha

Chapter 47 - Allies

Ethan

The only sound I focused on was my mate's heartbeat. As long as it kept beating...she was alive.

I didn't want to leave, Ezra was begging me to return to her. But her words, as always, were right. We needed to end this and now. I looked to Hunter...the man I thought was my enemy, the man I thought wanted my mate...who had risked everything to help us. He looked like his father, but he was nothing like him; he was brave and decent, he had earnt my respect.

'Jude, Carrick, protect April! Hunter and I are going after Nicholas' I commanded, as I shifted to my wolf along with my new ally.

If I couldn't stay by to protect her, I knew those two would until I could get back to her...she just had to hang on. I could feel it in our bond...how bad her injury was, how much pain she was in...how weak she was becoming. As much as I hated it, I pushed those feelings aside to focus. I needed to end Nicholas...for her.

Hunter and I took off in search of his father, fighting our way through what remained of the enemy. Groups of my warriors were still fighting, no-one fought alone, everyone protected the wolf to their left and to their right. Nicholas knew he was starting to lose. This must've been his insurance. Sending his son to attack at our back and then have me shot dead, breaking the bond that bound April and the pack warriors to me...he just didn't account for his son's betrayal.

We found him as he was throwing one of Hunter's warriors to the side. Sensing our auras approach he turned to face us, snarling at his son.

'You ungrateful, little mutt! I should have killed your mate when I had the chance! Here I thought you were finally seeing sense...guess I'll be putting 2 boys in the ground today' he spat through mind-link, not bothering to hide the venom and hate towards his own flesh and blood.

Hunter snapped back, barking a threat just before a black wolf leapt on him, rolling him to the side. Another pale, sandy coloured wolf was about to jump on him but he kicked it off.

'It's my father's Beta and Gamma, I can handle them. Get Nicholas' Hunter mind-linked me.

Halting my movements to help him, I turned to face my enemy, the enemy that destroyed my mate's life, her pack, her family. I was a skilled fighter but this man had 30 years on me, he wasn't going to be like any other opponent I had faced.

I gave control to Ezra, his raw instincts and strength would be needed in this fight. We circled Nicholas, seeing who would strike first and baring our teeth. He faked a lunge to the right and when he was close enough, we slashed down his flank. But he moved faster than we anticipated and managed to sink his teeth into our left hind leg. We quickly slashed at his face, catching him in the eye and making him release our leg. With his hindered eyesight we lunged for his neck, ripping our teeth into his flesh but missing his jugular. The two of us rolled, snapping our jaws at the other, tearing and slashing in a mass of fur, blood and teeth. He landed on top of us aiming his jaws at our neck, all four of our feet pushing against his chest, keeping his teeth just inches from our throat. We may have been the slightly larger wolf, but he was heavier and just that bit stronger with his age and experience.

Nicholas suddenly whimpered loudly, staggering to the side. I saw the handle to a knife sticking out of his side, the silver throwing knife I had given April in our training. Looking to the side briefly I saw Christopher with his arm still out stretched. He fell to a knee, clutching his side, steeped in blood as Jude rushed to catch him. 

With the split second we had, we clamped our jaws around Nicholas's throat. Using every ounce of strength we had left, we shook violently hearing the sickening crack of his neck breaking and tearing out his throat, throwing his lifeless body to the ground.

We threw our head back to howl in victory, to signal that the enemy Alpha was dead...the battle was over.

A painful rip in my chest shuddered through my body…

...No...

The bond...it was weakening...breaking.

I ran back to where my mate lay, focused solely on returning to her side. I shifted as I reached her, falling to my knees. 

She looked so pale.

Her once naturally red lips were blue.

Her hand felt so cold and the tingles from the bond were diminishing.

"Alpha, I removed the bullet...it was pure silver, the highest grade. It's torn straight through her right lung...she's lost too much blood...I...I can't do anything" Greer rushed out, his voice breaking slightly.

But I barely registered his words, as I carefully wrapped my arms under my mate's cold body, bringing her to the warmth of my chest. My hand stroked her cheek, horrifying me at how cold it felt against my fingers. Her eyes still held that warm, softness they always did when she looked my way, making my own glisten as the first tear fell.

"You promised you'd stay...you can't leave me...I only just found you" I croaked, feeling my throat tighten. 

The silence around us felt deafening.

My wolf howled within my mind at feeling August so unresponsive.

"I'm sorry...guess I was a little...stupid after all" she whispered, as her eyebrows creased in pain.

"No...you're the bravest, always" I whispered against her skin as I kissed her forehead.

"I need you to promise me something…" she murmured, as her hand reached up to stroke my jaw, her thumb tracing my lower lip.

"Anything."

She took a pained breath, struggling to exhale "don't lose yourself...the pack needs you."

I nodded, unable to speak, feeling as though a vice had clamped around my neck. I pressed my forehead against hers, nuzzling into the side of her still soft face and holding her tight to my skin as her breathing ceased.

Pain wracked my body as I felt my soul ripped away, feeling as though my heart had been wrenched from my chest. 

I had felt something akin to this once...and I had thought that was unbearable...this...I felt as though there was nothing left of me.

My body shook from the force of my cries, the world around us disappearing into a sea of grey. I had no clue how long I had clung to her. Any warmth she had felt long gone, her sweet meadow scent dissipating. I took deep lungfulls, committing each one to memory...this was all I had of her now...she was gone.

...She was gone…

A hand placed on my shoulder, brought me back to my crushing reality.

"Ethan...we need to build pyres...for our fallen…" Carrick spoke quietly, his own eyes rimmed red.

I nodded, not knowing what else to say. What was there to say? I looked around, seeing the devastation around us properly for the first time.

Jude had Chris's arm slung over his shoulder, keeping him up right and putting pressure on his side. He had saved me today. I saw Janine clinging to her brother's still body, wailing…she had lost her twin. Others held their dead, mourning their friends, family. I saw others tending the wounded and their own injuries...this had been April's idea...I remember Greer telling me...when I had left her in a fucking cell…

That crippling guilt reared its head...remembering all that time I wasted being a fucking coward...

"Don't lose yourself"

Her words echoed back to me.

I took a deep breath, feeling the guilt ebb away, almost as though her lips were pressed against my skin. 

"Ethan, take care of our own. I'll deal with the enemies' dead" Hunter offered.

His face held a stoic expression…he had lost his father today, he may have hated him, but he would have felt the familial bond break.

I looked down into my arms, gazing at April's perfect face. She looked just like she was sleeping.

We had won this battle, but it was the most hollow victory I'd ever felt...I had lost everything.

----------

The injured were transported back to the pack territory to be checked over at the hospital. The remainder of us, now dressed, worked to build pyres to burn our fallen on our territory...to release their spirits to return back to our maker, the moon goddess. Hunter had dealt with the enemy remains outside my territory, digging a hole to bury them in; a final curse on their bodies, their spirit would never be released to find peace.

A sorrowful and sombre atmosphere filled the air as each body was placed on its pyre. I watched as Bryce placed Jaime's body on his wooden rest. Janine and her mother, Reena, looking on and clinging to each other in mourning, her father stood behind hugging them both. 

The moon shone above, looking down upon us all. April's body in my arms...I struggled to place her on her bed...unwilling to part with her and feeling that tight clawing feeling, claiming my throat again. Willing my arms to release her, I gently laid her down and took a final look at her beautiful face, remembering every detail...the only detail I wanted to see were those glacial eyes...but they were gone.

Taking a final breath, I grasped the torch and lit under the pyre setting the structure alight. One by one the others went up in flame, the heat and orange glow engulfing the clearing where the pack stood by.

My Beta and Gamma stood by me, as they always had, in silent support, never leaving my side as the fires burned. No words were spoken, none were needed to. It wasn't until the last of the pack left that I allowed my last tears to fall. 

Hunter came to stand by us with silent words being passed between him, Jude and Carrick. The two turned to me, giving me each a brief forehead touch in brotherly comfort before leaving with their mates...I felt a fleeting pang of jealousy that they got to leave with their mates...I quashed it as soon as it flared, I wouldn't wish this feeling on anyone.

"Mates...they save us in ways we never really expect" Hunter spoke now we were alone, still facing the last embers of the fires.

I looked at him from the corner of my eye, not turning my head.

"I might have become just like that man. I despised him more than you could ever know...I was filled with so much hate, trying to deny who I was. Then I met the most beautiful pair of hazel eyes" a wistful smile lit up his face as his eyes glistened from the memory "they saved me in ways I can't even count. Rejecting Taylor to save their life from my own father...I still feel that scar even now."

He placed a hand on my shoulder "you'll always have a friend and ally in me Ethan. I'll make sure any of her pack that want to come here, do. All her pack's assets too."

I nodded at his kind offer. April would have loved that, to have her pack back, feeling safe.

"You're welcome to stay in my territory, as long as you need."

"That's appreciated, but I need to head out. We Alphas don't get to have time off...I have a pack to deal with now and defend. My father was involved with some very dangerous people. I doubt you'll feel any fall out with them...but my pack, I don't think they'll like having lost a footing here in the states."

I looked at him questioningly "anything I can help with?"

"No...the less you know about them the safer your pack is...trust me" he stated ominously, looking out to the night horizon. 

The pack house was silent, the few wolves I passed bowed their heads or bared their necks, barely looking me in the eye. I could feel the pack's pain and sadness at the loss of their Luna in every facet of the pack's link and bond.

Dragging myself into our suite, her scent hit me like a slap to my face. The space felt cold and barren without her presence. Her scent was strongest still in the bedroom. I was still covered in blood, dirt, sweat and the stench of battle but I couldn't bring myself to enter the bathroom. I collapsed on to the bed, grasping the t-shirt she had flung to the ground and nuzzled my face into its fibres, feeling the tears painfully well up yet again.

I failed her…

I should have never brought her here…

I should have locked her away…

She'd have hated me, but she would still be here…

I had one job…to protect her…

And I failed…

"Don't lose yourself"

Her words rang through my mind as I almost felt her touch caress my skin, whispering in my ear. 

It was a promise I was determined to keep.

Chapter 54 - The Wanted Alpha