LIAM

I held Jett up by his throat, seeing nothing but red. How dare he try to hurt Azalea on my territory? Gavin was pushing for control, wanting to rip his throat out.

“Who sent you?” I shouted. I wanted answers, and I wanted them now.

“Please,” he gasped, trying to pry my fingers from his throat. “My mate!”

“She isn’t your mate!” I yelled.

“Sir, we are attracting a crowd,” Azeron said, standing. Jett had given him a hell of a fight but Azeron kept him away from Azalea, which was the important part.

“Please,” Jett gasped again.

“Where is my mate?” I demanded.

“She’s right here,” I heard Langston say. “She and Emma are just fine. Just a sprained ankle.”

“I fell, Liam. I’m okay,” I heard Azalea’s voice behind me.

“I want answers,” I directed at Jett.

“Let him give them to you in front of everyone,” Azeron said. I looked at him sideways as he stood glaring at Jett struggling in my grip. I looked at Felix, who was hovering over his Beta; he nodded his agreement. Personally, I preferred to break his neck right here, but I nodded.

I loosened my grip just enough to let him breathe better but didn’t let go. I dragged him with me back to the stage, depositing him right in the center. Felix followed, carrying Lance. The small crowd that had started to gather backed away as we stormed back to the stage. For the most part, everyone abandoned their seats, trying to get a look at what was happening.

“While you all debate why a race war affects your small part of our world, my Luna is being attacked!” I shouted so everyone could hear me. The hushed conversations died down, and everyone paid attention to me now. “Explain before I have your head for coming into my territory and trying to hurt my mate!”

“He took her! He took my mate and threatened my son! The vampire has her and will only give her back if I bring him yours!” Alpha Jett rushed out, quivering under me. A gasp was heard all around us.

“Warwick took your mate?” Azalea said from behind me.

I turned around quickly to see Azeron and Langston helping her over to me. “Stay back,” I warned her.

“Yes, yes, he has her!” Jett said, quickly looking past me to Azalea.

“And how do we know you aren’t lying to us?” Emma asked.

“The vampire took my sister only three days ago then sent us photos as he is having my nephew followed at college,” Beta Lance said from his position on the floor under Felix.

“Sister?” I questioned.

Jett nodded. “My mate, my Luna, is my Beta’s younger sister. We have a 19-year-old son off at college. He will take over as Alpha once he completes his degree,” Jett explained quickly.

“Austin!” I yelled. I needed to verify the information was true; I needed to know, and I wasn’t sure if I could trust anyone outside of Langston and my pack members right now.

“I think he is telling the truth!” Austin answered, coming to my side. “We knew he had a mate and a son around the age of ascending to the position of Alpha. He didn’t RSVP with her, though.”Belongs to © n0velDrama.Org.

“I was going to leave her home,” Jett said. “I was not going to bring her for her safety!”

I stared down at the pathetic man beneath me. “Liam, if his mate was really taken….” Azalea said softly between us. I shook my head; I couldn’t listen to that right now.

“How?” I growled.

“There was an issue with our patrol. They picked up an odd scent and woke me after a long search. I left late at night to help them; we searched our whole packland. We are smaller than this pack, but still, we searched everywhere. No one knew what the scent was, and it seemed to be everywhere but lead to nothing,” he gushed. His eyes were wide, imploring me to believe him. “When I returned in the morning, she wasn’t in our room. She was nowhere in our packhouse. I found the photos of my son on my desk with a note from the vampire. He said he would keep her, and I could trade her evenly, Luna for Luna, if I brought him the Luna of B***d Eclipse. We had only gotten your invitation two days prior, and I knew nothing of you or your mate. Please, I would do anything to save my mate. You clearly would do anything to protect yours, assigning two guards to her!” He motioned to Azeron and Felix.

“Alpha, if I may,” Salali spoke up. I turned to face her. “My Alpha would like to vouch for Alpha Huxley. He knows him to be a reasonable and honorable wolf, and he does not believe that Alpha Huxley or his Beta would come to your land to attack you or your Luna without provocation.” I looked at the trio of wolves next to her, all standing proudly as they watched me.

“Alpha, if I might add something as well?” Luna Jessalyn said, standing from her seat. She had been quiet and kept to herself so far today, not even engaging in discussions at lunch from what we could observe.

“Yes, Luna?” I said.

“I believe that this shows every Alpha in attendance here that this threat is very much to them as well as you,” she said. I couldn’t help the surprised look that came over my face. She walked toward the stage, everyone stepping aside to let her walk through freely, and held her hand up to me. “If I may?” I helped her climb up onto the stage and nodded, giving her the floor.

“We too were visited only some days ago by a vampire shortly after receiving the invitation to this summit from Alpha Blackfur. My mate and I were very split on the issue. I was on the side of coming, hearing out the wolves of B***d Eclipse before we chose any side while my mate wanted to stay out of the issue,” she explained. Everyone listened with rapt attention to the woman who held herself confidently and elegantly in front of them. “We also received notice from our night patrol of odd scents within our borders. I went to investigate, for, in my pack, the warriors are under my direction. We searched for some time before being alerted to an intruder at our packhouse. When we arrived, my mate was lying dead on the front lawn. There was a note under his body, telling me exactly who was responsible.”

Luna Jessalyn turned to Jett. “If he kidnapped your mate, then I can understand why you risked attacking Alpha Liam’s to get her back. I have not spoken my mind during any of the discussions yet as I have yet to tell my allies about my mate’s passing. My son and daughter too are at college, and I believe them to be in danger.” She reached out a hand toward Jett, offering to help him up. He took it, but I growled as he got to his feet. I felt a small, warm hand on my back and turned to see Azalea.

“Alpha Blackfur, I am truly sorry for my actions. I felt I had no other choice. Please, I need my mate. I am sure you can understand this after what you have told us. I will help you fight the vampire if you can help me get my Luna back,” Jett pleaded with me.

“My warriors will also help to fight the vampires. They will want revenge for what has been done to their Alpha,” Luna Jessalyn said.

“My Alpha also agrees to help,” Salali spoke. I turned back toward the crowd, seeing the looks on everyone’s faces.

“While we do not condone his actions, we can understand why they have transpired,” Alpha Karsyn said.

“We will also help,” Alpha Andris said. “We will help get your mate back,” he directed at Jett.

“So will we,” Alpha Michael piped in. “If anyone were to threaten Quinn, they would not breathe a moment more. But you are lucky this Alpha and his Luna’s selected guards did not execute you and your Beta on the spot. I will not tolerate such dishonorable behavior amongst my allies.” Others nodded in agreement.

Soon, there were murmurs of assent and cooperation spreading around the group. I looked around, a little shocked that the crowd was turning in my favor.

“See, Liam, they just needed a reason,” Azalea said softly next to me. Azeron had his arm around her, helping to support her weight. I looked to Langston, who had Emma held tightly against his chest. Although she is a normal werewolf, her age had slowed her down, and I am sure she was not able to fight back as she had wanted to. Even Langston has gotten a bit weaker over the years we have been training together.

I looked down at my mate. After all that, she didn’t look scared or worried, and I could feel her relief through our bond. I still wanted to tear Jett limb from limb, and Gavin was on my side of the fence, but I could also understand why he attempted to take her. I would have gone after the vampire myself, but not all Alphas are like me.

“I’ll be just fine, but you now have your allies, My Alpha,” Azalea said, getting my attention again. I snaked my arm around her waist and nodded for Azeron to step away. She smiled warmly at me, leaning against me. “No one got injured, except maybe Lance and Jett. I just need a bit of ice, and I’ll be right as rain. He is worried about his Luna, and if anyone can understand that feeling, it is you,” she continued silently. “You were out of your mind until you got to us. So let’s help him.”

“You are far too forgiving,” I told her.

“It’s just understanding, My Alpha,” she smiled. “Go on. Address them all. Azeron can take me inside, and we’ll call your uncle.” She patted my chest. I let out a sigh and looked back to the crowd of Alphas, Betas, and other pack representatives before looking at Austin and Felix.

“Let’s adjourn this for now. I want to take Azalea inside and have her ankle looked at. I want to speak with the Alphas we already flagged if they agree to help us. Anyone else can leave my territory tonight,” I linked them, and they both nodded.

I turned to Langston, who nodded, already knowing where my mind was. “I would like to take Emma inside as well,” he said.

MISSY

After Austin dispersed the crowd and Langston and Liam left with Emma and Lea, Maddox pulled me aside. His eyes were still a little wild as he looked me all over.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked, worried.

“I’m fine, Maddox, I promise,” I said. He grabbed my face in his hands and kissed me deeply.

“I heard you say to get your dad, and I was so worried,” he said, breaking away from me after stealing all the oxygen in my body.

“I saw the guy attacking Emma, and I don’t know what happened; I just moved,” I told him.

“I can’t believe you got the better of a Beta,” Maddox said proudly.

I nodded, still disbelieving myself. When it happened, all I could think about was protecting Emma and Lea, and then I was fighting a grown man. “You’re incredible, darling,” Maddox said, breaking me from my thoughts. He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and looked at me lovingly. “But maybe we should work on your fighting skills a bit?”

“Yea,” I said, nodding. “It might be good if you or Felix were to show me some things.”

“Wait, you want to train with us?” Maddox asked, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

“Yea,” I told him. “I had no idea what I was doing; I just did.”

Maddox ran his hands up and down my arms, and I felt a warm trail of sparks erupting from his touch. I realized at that moment that I was shaking a bit. Maddox looked at me lovingly, “It’s the adrenaline. Now that everything is calmed down, your body is expelling the by-products of all that energy. Let’s go to the kitchen and put some food in you; it’ll help.” He wrapped his arm around my waist, and I leaned into him a bit as we headed to the kitchen.

I was surprised to find Emma and Langston sitting at the island with Miss Marci in the kitchen while all the dinner preparations were going on around them.

“Maddox, Missy,” Miss Marci greeted us. “Luna Emma was just telling me about what happened. Are you alright, dear? Doctor Ronald is on his way to see Luna upstairs; we could have him check you as well?:

“Maybe just some lemonade and an apple, please?” Maddox said as we came over to them.

“Of course,” Miss Marci said before ducking in between the volunteers in the kitchen. Sol was hard at work over something on the stove, so I didn’t bother her.

“Missy, dear, we owe you a big debt of gratitude,” Langston said, standing from his seat so I could sit next to Emma.

“No, I was just doing what anyone would do,” I said.

“No, dear,” Emma said, grabbing my hand. “You were downright amazing and so brave. They could have easily taken me in Azalea’s place, and I am embarrassed to say I could not get out of his hold. I am afraid what may have happened if you had not noticed all of us.”

I blushed in embarrassment. I hadn’t done anything amazing; I wasn’t going to let someone hurt Emma or my mom. Maddox rubbed his hand on my back, and I could feel his pride through our bond. Miss Marci returned with a glass of lemonade and a sliced apple, pushing them in front of me.

“Liam and Lea sure raised a wonderful girl,” Langston said. “You will do amazing things.”