Alpha Ultima

Chapter 26

Tyler's POV -

Well, this was shit. Utter, fucking bullshit. I came to Carter to warn her and her pack of what was to come so everyone could prepare. And here we were, blind-sided and taken down at the knees. My warning had been for nothing.

I stood outside of the holding cells trying to gather my thoughts. How was the pack ever going to trust me after last night? I had slept with their Luna, drugged and kidnapped her. Brought her to my sick, evil father - who had me so goddess-damned brainwashed I didn't know my head from my ass - who in turn had me almost kill her. Then, after all of that, he brought me and all of his experiments to attack. We killed the Alpha and Luna for fuck's sake!

And now! Now, it happened all over again and I was none the wiser. I couldn't help them, I couldn't stop Xander from being taken. The attack had come months sooner than I had expected it to. The phone call that I overheard must have been a ruse, I realized. Or it was possible they knew I overheard and upped the time line. I was sick to my stomach. Goddess, what a fucking mess.

A howl echoed through the air and I felt it right down in my soul. I shuddered as a deep longing overcame me. I mentally shook it off, I didn't have it in me to add the mess of my mate onto my plate right now.

A strong nudge pulled in my chest, directing me back to the pack house. The howl was filled with authority and my Lycan and I had no choice but to listen. Before I could consciously realize what I was doing, my feet began to move and in moments I was running.

My pack needed us, my mate needed us. I rounded the corner and the beautiful male came into sight. My Lycan, Chief, was practically panting in my head, which to be honest, was not easy to ignore. Every inch of my soul called to Sam. It was a different feeling than how I felt towards Chantal. More powerful and all consuming.

He stood on the porch as the pack beginning to gather on the grounds below. His aura of power blanketing over us. I let my eyes roam over him, he stood there with his legs parted and arms crossed over his chest. He absolutely oozed authority and sex. I was a Goddess-damned idiot. I needed to speak with him. Obviously, now wasn't the right time, but before the night was over I needed to make things right.

My heart ached in my chest as the memory of his pain filled face came to mind. I had fucked up. Royally. It wasn't his fault that I was in a bad place because of my first mate, yet I still took it out on him as if it was. Looked at him with disgust because I was so angry with myself that I thought I didn't deserve another mate. Nor did I ever want to give somebody else the power to hurt me in the way that my father and Chantal had.

I was so all consumed with her that I had followed so blindly to hers and my fathers wishes that I became someone completely else. I was cocky, arrogant and blinded by my need for acceptance. Seeing Sam had tilted my world on its axis even further. He didn't deserve any of that and I damned well didn't deserve him.

"Yea, idiot. You messed it up for the both of us." Chief growled in my head.

"I fucking know, okay? I will fix this, I swear. Even if it takes a hundred years."

Chief snarls and I push him back until I can't feel him anymore. I had a lot of reconciling to do. I sighed.

It took over a half hour for all the pack members to arrive at the pack house. Men and women with eyes full of fear and apprehension surrounded me. My eyes never left Sam as I waited, though he never looked over to me once, much to my hearts dismay.

I felt like a fucking idiot standing there, practically begging for his eyes to meet mine, even for just a second. I wanted to convey to him just how sorry I was but it seemed like that was not in the books for me today. Not that I should get so lucky.

An image of me groveling on my knees in front of Sam filled my mind and I snarled at Chief in annoyance. Stupid Lycan.

There must have been some kind of queue that I missed because the quiet chatter that had echoed around me came to an end simultaneously. I looked around at the disheveled pack mates, their clothes ripped and tattered from the attack, and noticed all eyes on Sam so I turned my attention back to my mate.

I watched him tip his head back and let out another haunting howl. Instinct took over and I followed suit. I was surprised to hear the surrounding howls break through the air with my own. My eyes closed and I took in the moment of peace and acceptance that suddenly flowed through my veins as the last of my howl emptied the air in my lungs.

All these years, Chief had yearned for a pack, for any kind of acceptance. My nose burned and my eyes blurred with sudden tears as I let my head drop back down. I have never been more than a pawn to my prior mate and father, yet now I stood here, apart of a pack and apart of something so much more. I wouldn't fail them.

I lifted my head and opened my eyes, immediately locking onto the most perfect, ocean blue orbs. Sam watched me with confusion and hurt in his eyes before the shutter came down and he became emotionless, turning away from me.

"Silver-Thorne Pack!" Sam's voice carried over the crowd, "As you all know, we were unprepared for the attack that commenced last night. Alpha Quinn, Beta Liam and Beta Cole are, until further notice, out of commission. The pack doctors are working hard to get them back to full health. Your Luna fought hard last night, she protected our pups and got them out of harms way."

I looked around at my pack mates and noticed families holding tightly to their little ones in their arms. Pride surged in my gut at the sight. Without Carter, and my Alpha's, things could have gone much worse last night.

"She too, is in the hospital with her mates. While physically she in unharmed, she has depleted her energy resources and requires time to rest. I know you're tired and scared, but know that we will not let harm fall upon you. We were caught off guard last night and that won't happen again."

A deafening hurrah sounded from the pack warriors and chills spread over my body. The Silver-Thorne pack was strong and well trained, yet we had still failed last night. The whole system needed a revamp. Ha. Revamp indeed.

"Warriors, meet me in the training field immediately. Women and children, go home and rest. Later today if any of you are feeling up to cooking for the men who, make no mistake, will be run empty by tonight, that would be greatly appreciated." The women smiled and nodded, whispering between themselves as they came up with a plan. "I don't need to tell you that word of what happened here tonight cannot get out. Rumors of the Alpha Ultima falling could be detrimental to our way of life."

"Yes, sir!"

The words were spoken in true pack form. Powerful, united and binding as they were said as one from every member of the pack, including the pups. It was an incredible moment and not one I would soon forget. Everyone dispersed and I followed the warriors without a second thought.

"Let's go big guy." I said to Chief. We would prove ourselves today, one way or another. We were in this for the long haul.