A Leader Must Rise - Old Version

Chapter 72

Chase

"Let me go. Drake, let me go," I yelled. "Alpha, please, wait," Jesse pleaded. "No!" "Alpha, that's enough!" Ash yelled, stepping in front of me and placing his hands on my chest. Drake and Jesse were on either side of me, holding my arms and trying to drag me back. "Chasin, listen to them," Velgos yelled after us. I stopped in my struggle, turning to look at him. "I can't just wait here," I said. "You're going to have too, none of us have the ability or the energy to go after them," he replied. I looked at him like he's mad, only noticing his bandaged arm and torso seconds after he spoke. "And those stallions we brought aren't meant for open combat and they definitely weren't built to manoeuvre around dragons or giant eagles," the colonel of the marines said. "We're out of luck, brother," Aurelio said. "And we can't lose our third Alpha," Jesse said and I faced him, only realising they've been call me their alpha for the passed twenty-four hours.

"Please, just wait for them," Ash said. I faced him when I hear how choked he sounded, multiple tears rolling down his ash ridden face. I shake off Jesse and Drake and cupped the back of Ash's neck, bringing him forward until our foreheads touched. "Okay," I whispered and pulled him into a hug. "She'll be okay." Ash broke down then, gripping into me like a lifeline. "Come on, come with me," I said, leading him back into the chamber and up into the chinook. Alec was in the first seat on the right, being checked over by the marine medic. He looked up startled at Ash's sobbing, frowning as he took notice of his hold on me. I waved away a hostage who was in the seat next to him and sat Ash there. I knelt in front of him and held his head up. "Look at me. Ash, look at me," I ordered. Ash sniffed and did as I said, tears still pouring. "She'll be fine. She is a lot tougher than you know think."

"Y-You—" Ash cleared throat before starting again, "You're just as worried as we are." "My earlier performance didn't indicate that much? I must not be showing enough," I said and I got a watery smile in return. I heard a few strained laughs and I peaked behind me, seeing the entire team here with Carlos and Kaelan. "Well, if you want to speak about past experiences—" "Say another word, Carlos, I dare you," I said as I pointed at him. He laughed, pulling a more hearty chuckle from the others but they was still strained. "Tell us something," Ash asked. "Like what?" I said. "How did you and Ari meet in your first life?" "F-Fe-First...life?" Alec asked with a cough. "Ah, don't move, Alec. This is tedious work I'm doing here," the medic said. "S-Sorry," he whispered. I offered a small smile, giving Alec a slight shrug. "Ari, Andrew, Justin and I are relic's from a million years ago," I explained briefly.

"We haven't had the time to explain since we remembered three—four?—days, Alec. We were more worried about you," Andrew said. "We'll explain in full when we're not in this hellhole any longer," I said. "Amen to that," the medic agreed and I smirked. "But as to how I met Ari in my previous life. My life back then really wasn't that much different, besides a few things. They didn't like the fact I was the Blood Moon wolf, they ridiculed for me for it. I often suspected they would have killed me if my egg donor didn't have any complications with my birth." "Yeesh, man," Jesse said. "I know. Ironic, isn't it? Both lives I am the Blood Moon wolf and both sets of parents hated me for it. Only difference between them is that my first set only ridiculed me verbally, the second set abused me physically and mentally," I explained for Alec benefit. He nodded along, showing me he was listening.

"I wasn't allowed off territory much, so I couldn't find my mate. Several attempts I tried doing so, several tries I regretted." "What happened?" Abby asked. "They starved me, adding on three days every time I tried. Once it got close to three weeks, I knew I couldn't attempt anymore. Not if I wanted to starve to death, and the last time I came so damn close. Once I came too, I realised my mate would have to come to me. I hated the idea, absolutely loathed it, but it was either that or death." "Not much of a choice," Jesse muttered and I nodded. "So, instead leaving, I often went to this nook in woods on their territory. It was very was well hidden with stream in front of the entrance, I could hide in there for weeks and not be found. Drove my parents insane with that."