The Hunted Wolf – Chapter 60

MARK I stood up in front of the crowd, looking at the faces of all the people waiting for my speech. I recognized so many from when I was growing up, but there were definitely new faces from those who joined the pack after I left. They were expecting answers and explanations. I was sure there were those expecting me to fall on my face.

I refused to give them that satisfaction. Reyland was right. All I could do was be open and honest with them. If they refused my help, there was nothing I could do about it except accept it. I placed a hand over my heart, and a silence fell onto the crowd.

I summoned my alpha energy and courage and began speaking. “I know there has been a lot of confusion about what has been going on with your pack recently. Your alpha hasn’t been himself, and he has been missing more than an alpha should be. I’m sure there have been plenty of rumors, but I’m here to provide you clarity. Alpha Jori was attacked by a sorcerer who possessed his body, so he hasn’t been himself recently. We were able to exercise the sorcerer who took over his body, but Alpha Jori is in serious condition.”

Gasps echoed through the crowd and murmurs grew louder. I held up my hand and silenced everyone.

“I know you may not have reasons to believe my words, but I have no reason to lie to you all. I’m only here to offer help if you so choose. Alpha Jori is currently in our infirmary, and Doctor Zayla is doing her best to bring him back to health, but we don’t know what kind of recovery he is going to make, if he’s going to make one at all. I welcome all of you to visit if you wish. We can make a schedule so the infirmary isn’t overrun, but I don’t want to keep your alpha from you.

“In the meantime, my mate and betas are here to help with the needs of the pack. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if there is an issue that needs attention. Percy is also here to help.”

“Traitor!” someone in the crowd shouted. Percy winced at this accusation.

“I would be careful with your words,” Mark cautioned. “Alpha Jori was not in his right mind when he kicked out his own beta. Percy had always put this pack first, even before his mate. I would hesitate to call someone like that a traitor.”

Adira stepped up and took my hand, which surprised me. “I can’t even imagine how difficult this situation has been for all of you, which is why we are here to offer support. A wolfpack without its alpha doesn’t have a sense of direction or unity. That’s why we want to help you in any way we can. Most of you grew up with these three. You should know that they only want the best for those they care about. They have all made sacrifices for their own happiness for others.

“If you can’t see that or don’t want their help, then that’s on you. But I would think cautiously before biting the hand offering help, because it may not always be there. Other wolf packs might try to take advantage of the vulnerability having an incapacited alpha brings. We aren’t trying to tell you what to do or take care of your pack. We are simply offering support until your alpha can get back on his feet.”

“What is Alpha Jori never gets better?” another voice asked.

“Then you will all have a serious choice to make,” I said. “My wolf pack is open for any of you who choose to join, or you can leave to find another wolf pack.”

Percy was the next one to step up. “Thank you all for listening to us today. Please reach out to Scythe if you wish to make an appointment to see Alpha Jori, and if you have any other concerns, feel free to approach the rest of us.”

The crowd stayed silent until we stepped off the stage, and then the roar echoed through the crowd. I could hear the panic in some voices and the anger in others.

Adira grabbed my arm. “You did great up there, Mark.”

I smiled at her, even though I didn’t exactly feel like smiling. “I just hope they take me up on my offer for help.”

“They will. At least some of them.”

“Adira!”

I looked and saw Eva running up to Adira. She threw her arms around Adira, hugging her tightly. Adira hugged her back, her face lighting up.

“Eva! Look at how big you’ve gotten.” Adira looked Eva up and down. “You are becoming such a beautiful young lady!”

Adira was glowing while talking to Eva, which filled my heart. I knew more than ever that Adira would be a wonderful mother to our child.

–

ADIRA I collapsed in our bed when we finally made it home. There was a surprising amount of people who approached us, wanting to talk about their concerns. Mark made me sit most of the time, insisting I still needed my rest, but I was still exhausted. It was emotionally draining to hear about the plethora of problems going on with Pack Sallow. I never realized how many things could go wrong in a pack without leadership absent for such a short period of time.

“Do you have anything else going on today?” I asked Mark, who was changing into some fresh clothes.

“I have some alpha duties to attend to. I also want to talk to Reyland about contingency plans if the Council of Magic attacks prior to us being ready. We also want to start figuring all of that out.” Mark looked stressed just talking about everything he had to do.

I turned on my side and reached out my hand to him. “Can’t you just spend the rest of the day with me?”

Mark walked over to me and sat on the bed, grabbing my hand. He kissed the back of my hand. “I wish it was that easy, but I can’t afford for us to not be prepared. If they come after you before we are ready to stop them…” His voice caught in his throat.

I curled around Mark’s body. “They won’t get me. I’m not going anywhere.”

Mark looked at me, but I could still see the fear in his eyes. “I will make sure of that. You should take the evening to rest, maybe take a nap. You have been doing too much, which can’t be good for you or the baby after everything you’ve been through.”

“I was actually thinking of visiting Jori before his pack starts flooding in for visits,” I said. “I don’t really want to just sit around.”

“Do you want me to go with you?”

I shook my head. “You have plenty of other things to do. Besides, I want to see if there’s anything I can do to help him.”

Mark quirked his head to the side. “Zay says that medically Jori is healed. I don’t think using your magic to heal him would be a good idea. Besides, we don’t know if that would hurt the baby or not.”

“It wouldn’t hurt the baby. Using my magic doesn’t hurt me. And I know it may not work, but I have to try.” I looked up at Mark. “Before you got there, there was a brief moment where Jori broke through Xavier’s control. He begged me to kill him. Hearing that was difficult. Knowing what he was going through was enough that he wanted to die broke my heart. It doesn’t feel right to just sit here and not do anything.”

Mark still looked unsure. “It’s not your burden to bear. You didn’t do this to him.”

“It’s because of me that he got hurt. I don’t know why Xavier chose him of all people to possess, but it was to get close to me. I have to at least try.”

Mark leaned down and kissed my forehead. “I understand. Just don’t push yourself too much, and if it turns out you can’t do anything, don’t blame yourself.”

I nodded, since I wasn’t sure I could trust my words. Anything that came out of my mouth would feel like a lie. It was hard to not blame myself for the situation. Even though the prophecy was not my doing, people I cared about were getting hurt in the process. I also had a lingering fear that this was not over. I knew Xavier’s presence left Jori’s body, but I feared he was still out there, waiting to grow stronger.

Mark squeezed my hand. “I will link you, and if you need anything at all, link me. I will drop whatever I’m doing to join you.” He leaned down and kissed my lips and then kissed my belly.

“And you do the same. Don’t overwork yourself. Take a break and visit me when you can.” I thought about the days leading up to my kidnapping and hated that. I had barely seen Mark, even when we were in the same pack house, and I didn’t want that to happen again.

“I will be quick. I want to spend as little time away from you as possible.” Mark kissed me again and then left me alone in the room.

I stood up after a moment and then made my way to the infirmary. It was quiet in there, since Zayla seemed to be off doing something else. I sat next to Jori’s bed, listening to the slow beeping, indicating his heart was still beating. I wondered how long he had been alone here. I knew none of our pack members would want to visit him, and I doubted anyone from Pack Lyna had a reason to visit him. I just hoped people from Pack Sallow would visit him soon. No one deserved to lie in a hospital bed alone in this condition.

“I’m sorry this happened to you Jori,” I said. I knew he probably couldn’t hear me, but it made me feel better talking to him. “You didn’t deserve this. It’s a little weird thinking I’ve never known just you as a person. Well, except that time we briefly met as kids. I hope we get the chance to properly talk to one another one day.”

I reached out and grabbed Jori’s hand. I closed my eyes and focused on sending my magic through him. I felt around his body, searching for any remaining presence left over by Xavier. I still didn’t feel any of the dark magic, so I started looking for Jori’s presence. That was more difficult to find than I had anticipated, but eventually I found it hidden deep down inside of him. It was buried beneath layers, and I knew that was why he hadn’t woken up yet.

He had buried his subconscious to protect himself from the dark magic infiltrating his body, but now that the magic presence was gone, he was still stuck.

I placed my hand on his forehead, and with a deep breath, I tried to enter his subconscious mind. I felt a chill run down my spine, and when I opened my eyes, I was standing in a white room. In the middle of it, Jori was sitting cross-legged, staring off into space. I had made it into his subconscious mind.