On Your Mark

Chapter 26

Gregory and Marcus move in tandem as they interact alone, unheard but definitely seen. They anticipate what the other is going to say and react accordingly, as if they have known each other for years and have been practicing for this moment. But they're careful about it - either out of respect for their friend or because they want us to believe that they're strangers, but I can see that they are bonded somehow.

Gregory leaves the room with a solemn expression and our prisoner follows him, slamming the door closed and wiping the sweat off of his frustrated bald head. He approaches us with his head down, haunted by what he's just done but he hides his guilt behind a cold stare. He lifts his head, avoiding my gaze and shrugging his shoulders, "I know where they are."

"You're joking." Isaac scoffs.

"I promised that when we went looking, we wouldn't harm his mate." He finally looks at me and there is something hidden within his expression, but I can't decipher it quick enough before he looks away. "If she's safe, he doesn't care what happens to the others."

"But did he confess," Danny asks.

"He can't do that," Gregory says. "How could he? He's been locked up in here. He has no idea what they've been up to."

"You'll take us to them," Sam demands. "This is going to end."

Gregory nods, "I said it would."

~

"I don't have a good feeling about this," I whisper into Sam's neck.

We lay in bed cuddling, waiting for nightfall. He brushes the hair from my face, rubbing my back and kissing my forehead. "It's going to be okay, Allie. We're going to eliminate the threat and you both will be safe."

"I wish I was coming with you," I whisper again as he rubs my belly.

"You can't."

He pulls away from me and cups my chin, lifting my eyes to meet his.

"You can't follow us. I'm serious, Allie. I can't have you and the baby out there with the rogues when we attack. Promise me."

"I promise," I say softly. I press my lips to his, easing his worries.

I lay on his chest and blink into our room, begging the Moon Goddess to give us more time. But the darkness swells, consuming every second and pulling him away from me. I stand at the backdoor looking through the stained glass window, watching my mate and my brothers and Gregory Porter disappear into the woods.

I don't know how long I stand here - it could be minutes, it could be hours, but I stand staring into the darkness with my bottom lip fastened between my teeth and my eyes alert. I hold my belly, cradling the baby inside and praying for their father to return to us. A loud and soul crushing howl rips through the night, shaking the entire house.

"Allie Arla," my father calls through the howl, rushing down the stairs. I feel him behind me, but I can't bring myself to look away from the window. I have to stand here, I have to keep watch, I have to wait. He pets the back of my hair with a sigh, "you should get some rest."

"I can't," I whisper. "I can't. Not with him still out there."

As the dust settles on my words, they emerge from the trees. Without a second thought, I push my way into the backyard, hastily approaching them. The stench of blood and death surrounds them like a fog and I stop in my tracks. Samuel's bloodied face meets mine across the garden. My heart races so fast, I can hear it pumping in my ears, but he runs to me and pulls me close to him. He squeezes me and grasps at my back, searching for more comfort, more love, more of me.

"What happened," I ask, my voice muffled by his sweaty and muddied chest.

"They knew we were coming." His voice breaks as he shakes his head in my curls - out of breath and exhausted.

"Is everybody okay," I ask. I push away from his chest to look over his shoulder. All of my brothers look alike in this moment - exhausted, in shock, dirty, devastated and remorseful. Gregory, on the other hand, wears the same proud expression from earlier.

"We're fine." Isaac nods, patting Sam on the back.

"And the rogues?"

"Gone," Isaac says, staring blankly ahead.

"Even the kids," Danny whispers. His eyes fill with tears and he looks down at the ground, covering his face with his hand for a moment.

A light gasp escapes my lips and goosebumps cover my arms, "there were children?"

"I tried to stop him, to save them, but," Frederick starts to explain, but Gregory marches past him, knocking him in the shoulder and cutting him off.

"It had to be done," he deadpans.

"They were kids!"

"And I'd do it again," he spits. "Those rogues won't be a threat anymore. You're welcome."

He walks past me, strutting towards the house, but I stop him. "And what about the girl?"

"Nowhere to be found," he says, but there's an edge to his voice, making it hard for me to believe him. He continues on towards the house, leaving us all behind. I look up into Sam's face, pained by the horrors he encountered tonight.

"It's over, Allie," he says plainly and very far away. His arm rests on my shoulders as he walks me back to the house in silence.

I lock our bedroom door once we get inside and watch my mate roam around our room like a ghost - floating through the motions, emotionless. His eyes aren't bright and full of life, but blank and harboring sadness. He sits on the edge of the bed, his hands folded in his lap, and his head down. He leans forward suddenly, fisting his blond hair in a tight grasp as a sob shakes his body.

I rush to his side, rubbing his back and shushing him comfortingly.

"It's okay, Sam." I kiss the side of his face, pressing it to my chest and rocking him. "It's okay."

"It wasn't okay, Allie," he sobs. He wiggles his head against my chest, "you didn't see it. You didn't see him."

"Who," I ask, already knowing the answer.

"He was enjoying it," he remembers. "He was grinning and laughing as he tore those people apart. They were a threat, I know, to you and to our pup, to our family, but nobody deserves that."

I smooth out his hair and caress my hand along his jawline, making him look at me.

"You are not responsible for his actions," I tell him. "This is my fault. I brought him back here and I'm sorry."

I bring his lips to mine and kiss him passionately before he can tell me I'm wrong. I bring his head to my chest again, hugging him and holding him close.

"At least they're gone," I say out loud, trying to convince us both that I did the right thing by trusting Gregory Porter. "At least we're safe now."

He cries against my chest until he falls asleep. I lay him down, covering him with the blanket but not tucking myself in with him. I sit on the edge of the bed staring out at the moon. Despite the rogues being gone, the air is still thick with an unseen danger and a part of me wonders if it's my fault.