CHAPTER 41

AYLA

The tent was bright, making me squint my eyes open. The morning had come.

I felt content knowing that I had the best sleep in my whole life. I couldn't believe I didn't have one nightmare.

I rolled over the face Solo, but was met with an empty space.

What the heck? I sat up and looked around. He's not here. I instantly get up and climb out of the tent. Everyone was doing their own morning routines normally, but I didn't see him.

I remembered he had information for Xander. I went to the big tent, and saw Xander, Eddie, Lincoln, Noah and all of their mates, as well as my own.

It was dead silent. Xander was sitting there, bouncing his knee anxiously. Soul was sitting on a stool with his head down in his hands. All of them looked stressed.

"What's going on?" I announced myself. I went to my mate and laid my hand on his head, "Solo?"

He raises his head to me, "Hey, little wolf," He takes my hand and kisses it.

"What is going on?"

Solomon sighed, "When I was captured and tortured. I heard some of the wolves talking. They have so many allies, Ayla. I'm not sure we can win this war."

My heart had fallen into the pit of my stomach, "What do you mean?" I said quietly.

"They have too many people backing them up, " Xander cuts in, "Kendrick has convinced other packs that our pack needs to get stood down. They believe that we are an evil pack that feeds on the good of others. And so there has been a secret movement among the lower ranked packs. They have banned together into a rebellion. They have pledged their allegiance to Kendrick in hopes of bringing us down from the top rank."

I felt my kness weaken. We are done for. We can't win this.

"What will we do?" I asked shakily.

Xander stands up and says, "We will fight."

My eyes widen as did everyone else's.

"But Xander, they will slaughter us all." Izzy protested.

Xander shrugs, "There is a reason why they are in the lower ranks and we are the highest. We are a powerful pack as well as a smart one. They need reminding of that."

Soul stands up and shook his head, "You don't get it Xander, there will be too many of them to count. There could be hundreds if not thousands of them. It's impossible to win this."

"I cannot die knowing I ran from this. I would rather die knowing I fought for my pack, for my family. Kendrick has thought he had broken us, he thought he had starved us out. He has abused our females, he has abused Milo, he has abused this pack. No more. I will not take it. So let them come. Let them come and know what happens when you mess with this pack."

Guilt ate at me. I had brought this upon them. Blood is on my hands. I killed people by coming back here. I shouldn't have escaped Kendrick. I shouldn't have stayed. That way Solo and Milo wouldn't be in danger.

I didn't know what to do or how to think.

Solo bows his head towards his brother, "I will follow you, Xander. Once I am all healed up, which shouldn't take too long. We'll set up for one hell of a battle."

In a haze of panic, I shouted, "No!"

Everyone fell quiet and stared at me.

"We can't go to war like this, it will only end with blood stained on this land. You need time to get stronger,"

"And how do you suppose we do that?" Xander questions curiously.

I knew this was the only option, the only solid option we have, "I will hand myself back to Kendrick."

Solomon's eyes widen. He stands up quickly but winces from his wounds, "You will do no such thing, I won't allow it," Solomon hissed through his pain.

"What other stable option do we have? This is all my fault. I am the reason why we are in this mess. I will not let you all risk your lives because of someone like me."

Solomon steps in front of me and cups my face, "I promised you I would protect you. I will not allow you to go, Ayla. It will be almost impossible to save you if you do."

I take his hands off from my face, "But if it means you and Milo will be okay, then I will gladly sacrifice my life for you tow."

Solomon's jaw ticked in frustration. He was breathing heavily through his nose as he sat back down, his eyes hazing out from being deep in thought.

I gulped and looked back up to Xander. He stared at me intensely as he said, "As the Alpha, but also as a concerned brother," He says with a softness to his voice, " I cannot allow you to do that, Ayla, as brave as you are, you will not be involved in any plan we make. You will be protected by Solomon, that is it."

I nodded my head, "Yes Alpha."

I looked back at my mate and saw him staring angrily at the floor. I sighed and walked out of the tent. Everyone went about their routine as I went to get Milo.

SOLOMON

Everyone had made their way out of the tent, leaving me and my brother alone.

"She makes it so hard to protect her!" I growled at Xander, "She is so willing to sacrifice herself!"

Xander chuckles, "Yeah well, she's always been in trouble. Didn't she accidentally volunteered to be in a strip show?"

I groaned, "Don't even remind me of that. I was furious," But then I felt my hard anger melt away as I remembered all of the times I had gotten her out of trouble when we were kids. I smirked, "She was my little troublemaker she was. But why does she have to be a troublemaker while we're at war. I can't protect her properly if she is gonna go have these crazy ideas about self-sacrifice."

Xander sighs, "I know it's hard, but at the same time she does this because she loves you and Milo."

I nod my head, "Yeah, I know. That's why it's hard to stay mad at her."

"We will find a way of winning this war."

I stood up as did Xander, "How's the wounds?" He asks.

I shrug, "I should be fully healed in a couple of hours."

Xander nods and pats me on the shoulder, "Good. Once you're good, we'll begin to plan."

AYLA

I was at the river, watching my son clean himself on the bank. I grinned when I saw there was soap literally everywhere.

I sighed and just stared at my little boy. I never thought I would ever get to see the day Milo would be in an actual river, let alone travel to Italy. My heart felt happy that he could experience all of this.

I was also happy to think of Solomon. We have been on a hard journey, but look at us now. We were thriving. He was a good father and a good mate. I could see the Solomon I knew all those years ago, again. I could my Solo and it has made my life feel complete.

But then the thought of all of that being ripped away from me by the war. Dread welcomed itself in my stomach. I don't know what I would do if I lost my boys. I'm not sure if I could survive it. Survive the guilt.

Then the thought of Xander, dying, Mia dying, Lizzy, Noah, Eddie, Zay...all of them. I would have orphaned their children.

A cold chill breathed over my skin. The hair on my arms stand straight in attention. I frowned. I looked around the area. I sensed something. Something that didn't belong here.

I stood up, "Milo, come here." Milo knew the voice I used. He had heard it when we were at the attic. He came running to my side. I grabbed the towel and wrapped it around him. I held Milo close to my side as I waited. My son was clinging to my leg.

A snap of a stick was all it took for me to pick up Milo and sprint back to the camp. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. I pushed through the burning pain. I heard running from behind me. They were chasing me. I knew I wasn't going to be fast enough. The only way to ensure Milo's safety is if I shift.

I knew this was going to hurt like a mother. In my mind I unlocked my wolf. I felt my bones breaking, but I had no choice but to keep on running.

I screamed in pain as I kept going. My legs broke. I fell to the ground, but I pick myself back up. I got Milo to climb unto my back. I felt my claws growing, my fur piercing out of my skin. And then I finally fell unto all fours as I ran faster and faster. With every step it felt like my bones were breaking all over again.

"Ma!" Milo screamed in fright. He was scared, he had every right to be. I grabbed unto milo and held him in my mouth from his towel. I heard the other wolves gaining on me.

I took a deep breath and howled as loud as I could. Please let them hear me. I knew that they were going to catch us. But I won't let them catch the both of us. I swung Milo and threw him up ahead and into the dirt.

Run as fast as you can back to your father! I mind linked him.

I turned around and snarled at the wolves who were running. I ran straight towards them at full speed. I jumped in the air and tackled them both with my body. I looked over my shoulder and was relieved that Milo had gone.

One of the wolves tackled me to the ground and bit my neck.

I growled and rolled us over. I scratched his stomach and ran to smash his body against a tree, making him release his grip on me.

Once I saw him on the ground, I bit down on his neck as hard as I could and yanked it to the side sharply until I heard a click. His body sagged out of my mouth.

But then I was tackled from behind by two more wolves. I couldn't fight them off. I wasn't strong enough in this state. If I wanted to survive, I have to submit.

I snarled at them as I reluctantly bowed my head, letting them know I forfeit. One of the wolves shifted to his human form.

"Shift," He commanded. I growled as I did as he said. Shifting back was just as painful as the shift itself. My bones cracking and reforming. It was agonised. My howls and whimpers slowly turned to human screams of pain. I laid there sweating and shaking.

"Kendrick has been wanting to see you for quite a while now. You will be coming with us, Ayla."

I growled at him in defiance. He smirks darkly. He walks towards me and bends down on his knees. He reaches out and cups my cheek, "Well you are a pretty one, aren't ya." And then he swings his hand back to land it straight on the side of my face.

There was a burst of pain until I was consumed in darkness.