The Twisted Links

Chapter 68

CHAPTER 68

Midway Pack...

The clamor of armored vehicles and heavy boots filled the courtyard. Shouted orders were given over the clatter and bustle. Women and children bid their spouses and fathers a farewell before their journey. A few of warriors began filing into the waiting vehicles.

"Are you certain, Alpha?" Ezra, the Midway Pack Beta asked. "I can go in your stead and give aid to Cub Creek before searching for your brother."

"Even as a rogue. Brice is my responsibility." Alpha Winters said firmly. "He has kidnapped and harmed the daughter of my ally and the future Luna of the Cub Creek Pack.

"LOAD UP!" he shouted over the ruckus.

"You can always bring him to the Council for judgement or even to Cub Creek for his execution. His blood does not have to be on your hands." Ezra said with concern.

Alpha Winters' hard stare bore into his Beta. "He betrayed his family, his blood, his pack, and his mate."

Winters' icy blue eyes shot up briefly to the third-floor window where a silent figure watched the activity below. Regret poured through his body and the memory of finding such a pure gentle soul completely destroyed by his brother. The sight would always haunt him. It left more of an impression than watching his mate being ripped apart by rogue vampires. His beautiful mate had died instantly. Her suffering was short but Caroline, his sister-in-law, would be forced to live with her pain forever. She didn't deserve that.

"I should have killed him earlier." He gritted out with his jaw clenched. "Now I'm just correcting an error."

Ezra nodded.

"We're ready to go." Remy, one of Alpha Winters older sons, informed him.

His other sons were lined up to see their father off. His chosen mate had not bothered coming out to see him off. Their relationship was more of a business contract and he rarely saw her but couldn't complain. Iris kept up with her Luna duties and was well respected. He also knew that she had a mate but she was never open about it. Both Iris and Kristen came from strict families that believed that mates could only be of the opposite sex. They hid their relationship and Alpha Winters did not intrude on their privacy.

His oldest son, Micah, was on a mission to visit the other packs to find his mate and would meet up with his father at Cub Creek. Nodding to his Beta, Alpha Winters strode to the waiting lead vehicle. A fission of awareness made him look back up at the window. Caroline met his gaze and held it for a moment before turning and disappearing from view. Alpha Winters shook his head. Brice would pay for what he had done.

Red Moon Pack...

Alpha Sherry Blake, first female Alpha in recent history, held her stomach as blood gush from a fatal wound. The six men she had been fighting suddenly stopped and backed away. A woman with white blonde hair and bright blue eyes walked towards her. The woman was beautiful and seemed other worldly. She smiled showing brilliant white teeth, "You have fought well Alpha Blake. Surrender and I will let you and your family live. Otherwise..." the smooth honey toned ended with a threatening edge as Sherry's gaze drifted to where a few men dragged her mate forward. He too was injured but how badly she couldn't say. Their children were also brought out.

Guns loaded with silver were put the back of their heads. Even her infant was held at gunpoint.

"Every 30 seconds I will order their execution one at a time. Starting with the youngest. If your mate dies then I will kill the entire pack." The woman said coldly.

Sherry swallowed meeting the eyes of her helpless mate. Putting aside her wolf's desire to fight, she whispered, "I surrender."

The woman smirked before shouting. "Healer! Come earn your keep."

A man walked towards them who looked as if he had vitiligo. His dark skin was smattered with splotches and his face and arms were mostly white. Stepping forward his pale hands began to glow and he pressed his hands to her chest. Immediately, Sherry felt a warmth spread through her body healing her.

^Ameqran Abara^

The woman knelt. "The only reason I'm letting you live is because women like us need to be in power."

Sherry shook her head. "I am nothing like you."

The guards took Sherry and her family to the pack cells. Lady Melanie looked around the pack satisfied with the supplies and space they had to work with. A blond man stood next to her showing her around the pack.

Melanie smiled. "Well done. This pack is now yours to command... Alpha Winters."

Cub Creek Territory...

Lona and Aurora sat side by side in the underground cavern that acted as a fortified bunker. The cave had been used to house the pack when they first settled in the area.

"So, we're just supposed to sit here for an underdetermined amount of time and do nothing?" Lona asked Cotton who was making sure that they had everything they needed including extra blood bags in a mini freezer for Margo who was playing with the younger pups in the play corner that Luna Camilla, the current Alphas' mother, had added years ago.

"No, you are supposed to sit here and not die." Cotton said dusting her hands. It was a good thing that she had waited to attend the ball rather than going early with Tracy and Jonathan. When Phil received the call Cotton and Roger were getting ready to leave.

"Everything is ready. We're getting ready to seal the cave." Carrie announced loudly. "Please keep everyone in your prayers and stay calm. This cave is soundproof, well ventilated, and well stocked. Hopefully this will all be over within the next two days. Mrs. Whitman is in charge and will assist in any way she can. May the Creator be with you all."

"And with you Luna!" the pack members called.

Cotton and Carrie left the cave. Mido and Roger sealed the entrance and the wizard made sure to add an extra layer of wards on top.

"I don't see why we have to be in here." Neil said. "We've been training hard and can help."

"We're not strong enough yet." Oscar said practically. "We'll be more of a distraction than a help."

"We're Born Hunters. It's in our blood." Neil argued.

"Shut it, Neil." Lona said. "Oscar is right. All we can do is sit it out."

Aurora remained quiet. She had overheard her uncles talking with her parents. This was her fault. She was the one these people wanted. The funerals of her Uncle Jack, Aunt Carla, and many other pack members stood out in her mind. She didn't want anyone else to die. Not if she could prevent it.

Subtly looking towards the back of the cave Aurora knew that there was an exit some where hidden that only Mrs. Whitman, the housekeeper, and Ms. Katie, the pack cook, knew about. She had to find it. Maybe she could prevent anyone from getting hurt.

=================================

If anyone was curious. Galen went from "normal" to completely albino when he gained the powers of healing. Because his older brother Ameqran was not gift the powers that was passed down from generation to generation, he did not become completely changed. I loved the models I found. My mother had vitiligo and her skin eventually turned white. As a reminder to everyone... you're beautiful in the skin you're in.