Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Unedited

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I returned to the party with blood running down my brand new dress. My arms from the elbow down are coloured scarlett, the warm liquid dripping from my trembling fingertips. I'm trying not to think about the vast amount of blood that isn't mine that is currently touching my skin, drying against my chin and chest.

The screaming has finally stopped, my ears finally no longer ringing with the sound of upset, and the small whimpers of the pups that were present have dulled inside my head. I push open the gate to see Carrick is no longer lying on the floor, the large pool of blood left behind saturating into my lawn.

Brett is holding a small pup tightly in his arms, brushing the little boy's hair as he sobs into his chest. Olivia is also holding another little boy, her eyes flitting worriedly between Brett and the pup in her arms. Despite the seriousness of the situation, I can't help but smile at how much they look like a family. The smile drops from my face the second I see the mess Kaden is. His hair is wild, like he's ran his hands through it multiple times. His hands, like mine, are stained with blood, the thick red liquid staining the lips of his shirt collar and cuffs. His eyes are rimmed with red, his usually plump lips pressed into a thin line.

"Kaden." I call out, his eyes snapping straight up at the sound of my voice. I can see that underneath all of the relief swimming in his icy blue eyes is fury. I don't blame him. I walked out in the middle of a dangerous situation, met three rogues that could've potentially killed me, and blocked him out of my head. I would be annoyed if it was the other way round.

"I'm sorry." I say, falling into his embrace, nestling my head into his body and inhaling his endearing scent. It calms my muscles, clear my head and removes the last of the adrenaline from my veins. I can feel the rapid beating of his heart hammering against his chest as his strong arms tighten around me. "I know I should've gone with someone, but I just got so angry when I saw them..."

"Them?" Kaden interrupts, pulling me from his chest and looking in my eyes. "There was more than one?"

"Three." I nod, watching as his eyes darken. "But I killed one of them before he got away."

I watch as my mate's jaw clench, as his eyes dart out towards the park behind us where the rogue's body still lays cold and unmoving. His eyes flit back to me before hazing over and I know that he's talking to the pack. It frustrates me that tonight was the night I was supposed to finally be connected to the pack, the whole pack, only for rogues to ruin it and nearly take a pack members life.

Albeit the life of a dick, but still he's Kaden's third.

"We have to do this now." Kaden's deep voice brings me back from deep within my thoughts. His eyes are dark and his face serious, but the gentle squeezing of his hand in mine has me reassured that he has everything under control. Using my hand, he drags me in the direction of the stage, where a freaked out Viola is stood with a deep frown on her face.

He half has to carry me across the garden to stand upon the stage, my legs feeling wobbly as the adrenaline wears off. The old siphon stands to my left, wringing her hands behind her back, relief on her face when she sees I'm okay. Kaden walks towards the microphone, smoothing down the stray rebellious hairs and taps against it.

"Ladies and gentlemen." He begins, straightening his stance and holding his hands behind his back. "I'm not going to stand up here and lie to all of you about what just happened, nor am I going to coddle you with sugar coated words."

A ripple of murmurs break out amongst the pack members situated in my garden. I know that not all of the pack could make it tonight, because they live in the human half of pack territory and couldn't get time off work, or because they're posted on patrol tonight and they know their responsibilities to Kaden and the pack come before the ceremony.

There are sill over two hundred adults stood around me now, with more pouring in and out of the side gate onto the streets of the cul de sac we live in. They all look scared, frightened and unaware of what's going on, but the looks of determination on their faces has me smiling.

I'm soon to be a part of them.

"We are being threatened with war." Kaden speaks calmly, raising his hand to silence the crowd when loud upset breaks out. "Two rogues are currently being hunted down as we speak, your Luna killing a third one that shot Carrick."

Kaden turns around and beckons me forward, lacing his fingers through mine. "Today was supposed to be a happy occasion, but the good mood has been sobered with this attack. I want everyone to find a glass of champagne and raise them in the air."

Viola passes myself and Kaden a flute of bubbling champagne, the golden liquid foaming over the lip of the glass. I grasp it using my free hand and raise it up in the air, Kaden following suit.

"To Luna, may she reign well."

I smile against the rim of my glass, as the loud cheers sound around my garden, the chinking of glasses and the slow resume of laughter floating away into the night.

Viola walks forward and separates my hand from Kaden's before slicing my palm open with a thin blade. I wince slightly and watch as the collects my blood in a half full cup, repeating the same action. One by one the pack members make their way towards the stage, offering their hands to the old seer as she cuts their hands and collects their blood.

I watch as slowly the cup begins to brim with the thick, scarlett blood, my nerves beginning to tick over the edge. I have a feeling deep within my gut that I'm going to have to drink that, but I don't understand how it will link me to every sinle pack member considering they aren't all here. I feel Kaden's gashed palm slide into mine, grasping my fingers firmly within his large paw. I look up to see him smiling reassuringly my way, and he presses a soft kiss to my lips.

"Don't worry Lola." He says softly, taking the cup from Viola with his free hand and taking a sip. Viola had just finished chanting, taking her hand away from over the top "This is perfectly safe."

So I take the cup in my shaking hands, and sip.

And feel my mind go somewhere else completely.

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We were just about to head to bed when we got the call, or mind link.

Being connected to everyone, it exhausted me. Having so many people tell me how happy they are I protected them, that I'm a great Luna, everyone talking at once over the top of each other; it was and still is overwhelming.

I knew that Kaden was aware I wanted ot just go to sleep with him, wake up tomorrow refreshed to deal with Luna responsibilities, but when Jasper alerted us that one of the two rogues that attacked us had been caught Kaden knew there was no leaving me at home.

He had threatened me, threatened my home, threatened my pack and those I love. I'm done with being the nice girl, I'm ready to use my newfound strength to find out exactly what their leader wants with me.

We drove the short distance to the pack house in silence, Kaden's hand resting gently on my inner thigh. We're both in our pyjamas, Kaden forcing me to wear long pants because apparently my shorts weren't up to scratch.

Well he didn't use those words specifically, more like a long line of cuss words saying how he wouldn't allow me anywhere near unamted males, and how he'd rip out any eyes who lingered for a millisecond too long. I really didn't want any pack members going blind because of me, so I pulled on a pair of his tracksuit bottoms and Lyle's hoodie and we were out of the door faster than the flash.

When we get out of the car, Kaden grips my hand and pulls me down the side of the pack house, onto a dirt path hidden by the rose bushes on the side of the pack. The path is unlit, and I keep tripping over loose roots and stones. If I wasn't holding onto Kaden like my life depended on it, which I argue that I was, I would've definitely fallen straight on my ass.

We arrive at a pair of steel doors guarded by two wolves on watch, their expressions passive until they notice our presence. The doors are rusting around the edges, and a thick chain with a padlock keeping it shut. The guards smile kindly at me, but remove their eyes the the second I've acknowledged their smile in respect for their alpha.

"Alpha." They bow their heads, stepping aside and revealing the doors. "Are you wanting to see the prisoner?"

"We do." Kaden smiles, ushering me in front of him. "After you, Lola. You should see him first."

The guards open the doors and allow me to slide past, the heavy scent of damp, blood and rot hitting me like a slap in the face. The passage way is lit by dim ceiling lights, the walls and floor made of wet stone covered in moss. The second we enter the corridor we walk down a flight of steps, the sounds of muffled groans picking up in my sensitive hearing.

I almost slip down the stairs on a piece of moss, but Kaden catches me securely in his arms, placing me back on my feet but keeping a steady grip on my waist. "Careful." He whispers in my ear, taking me right at a junction. "Can't have you falling can we?"

I laugh at the cheeky grin on his face before pushing open a large wooden door at the end of the hallway. The hinges creak and groan as they call out desperately for a drink of oil, and I step into a much lighter room lit by bright lights that belong in an interrogation cell. Lining the walls are cages, the floors dusted with straw and blood. Many dishevelled bodies are stuffed in each cage that is barely big enough for one, their skin dirty and their hair messy.

They smell similar to the rogues that were on our pack land, the stench of rotten egg and decay invading my nostrils so heavily I almost gag.

But I don't want to appear weak, so I swallow my queasiness and walk over the another door guarded heavily by two strong looking warriors, and Sergeant Serious himself.

"Harry." I greet politely after he bows his head. "Have you been posted to guard a rogue?"

"I volunteered despite it being rather beneath me." He admits sheepishly, running a hand atop his shaved head. He turns his attention to Kaden and starts speaking lowly in his ear, but even still my hearing picks up their conversation. "He's not being very helpful, alpha. He didn't even speak during our more, forcible, forms of questioning."

It clicks in my head that Harry volunteered to interrogate him, not watch him like a guard. Harry unnerves me, with his stone cold expressions and threatening words. The guy was a retired navy seal for gods sakes, and sometimes he still acted like he was in the military, and I know he more than likely used military techniques as a way of extracting information.

"I want to speak to him." I declare, reaching for the door handle. Kaden's ears perk up at that and he grabs my wrist quickly, a warning look in his eye. "Kaden you won't convince me otherwise. He threatened me. I'm not letting that slide."

A look of pride flashes across his face before it quickly disappears. He runs a hand across his face before giving a nod to the guards and I watch as they unlock the door and open it, allowing me inside the room.

It's your typical torture space, with chains lining the walls and cages hanging from the ceiling. Blood is covering the floor, filling the gaps between the cobblestones, sprayed up the walls, pools of it underneath the feet of men and women hanging limply from the cuffs.

My gaze finally lands on the rogue I'm looking for, his head hanging limp on his neck. His bare chest is spattered with blood, and his legs have buckled underneath his body, the handcuffs the only reason he's still standing. The second I step into the room his head snaps up, and a bloody grin stretches across his face, scarlett liquid dripping from his lips.

"Ah, if it isn't my favourite Luna and her fake mate." The rogue chuckles, his grin twisting into a sinister smile. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

I hear Kaden growl dangerously behind me, and I feel him stalk towards the rogue. I place a hand on his arm before he passes, my eyes sending him a warning glance. This rogue is mine and he knows it. The rogue chuckles darkly when Kaden backs down, standing behind me like a guard.

"I don't really have time to chat." I say, picking my nails as I walk towards him. I eye my shoes with pity as the heel of my brand new shoe sinks into the blood between the cracks. "I just want you to tell me what your threat of killing everyone I love actually meant."

The rogues clicks his tongue, blowing the matted strands of blonde hair from his eyes. "I don't know why you're reading so much into it. When I said you've killed your loved ones, I meant it literally."

I look warily in Kaden's direction to see his jaw set in stone, his eyes thunderous. He nods his head towards me before stalking out of the room and speaking to one of the guards. The door clicks shut and I can no longer hear his voice. The room must be sealed which is a smart move. You can't hear anything outside, meaning that the sounds of tortured screams I'm not stupid enough to believe don't come out of here, cannot be heard.

I can see him through the small oval window, and I watch the vein in his neck pop as his face turns red from shouting. Seconds later the guard runs out of my sight, and Kaden runs back into the room just as the rogue behind me starts laughing manically. I whip around at the sound and see blood spraying out of his mouth, tears streaking down his face. His laugh becomes hysterical, his eyes full of hatred. "Like I said, Luna Thorne, you sealed the fate of everyone you care about. And I'm not talking about him."

And that's all it took before I was bolting from the room, desperately typing in the mobile number of my best friend. I could barely hear the dial tone over the sounds of strangled screams tearing from the room behind me.

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Dun dun duuunn.

I'm sorry but what is it with me and cliff hangers?

The story is finally starting to take direction now which I'm pleased with, but now I must be the bearer of bad news.

Seen as though it's Christmas next Monday and New Year's Day the week after, it is unlikely I'll be posting a chapter, simply because I haven't found time to write as of late. I promise after new year that updating will go back to normal but I apologise in advance if I don't post.

Anyways, what did you guys think of the chapter?? Leave your thoughts in the comment, you know how much I love to read what you guys think!!

Adios amigos,

Lauryn xoxo