The Triplets of Emerald Forest

Chapter 25 Harlow

"What's going on?" I yelped as the car came to a screeching halt.

"The pack is under attack. Gabe wants us to stop and stay here until the threat is over." Nova explained, her eyes dark.

The two SUVs that held our crew zipped into the parking lot of a service station and parked in the back, side by side. The five guard wolves that Gabe sent along piled out of the second SUV and surrounded us, two of them disappeared into the treeline beside the lot and I figured they were shifting and hiding out there.

"Stay in here." Callie instructed as she climbed out of the car along with Waylon who both stood guard outside of my window.

"What kind of attack?" I asked Nova, Annie, Kori, and Matti who remained in the car with me.

"Rogues." Matti said and I felt my eyebrow arch upwards.

"Wolves who aren't a member of any pack." Kori clarified, sensing my question, "Although, we haven't had issues with them since the attacks that took Luna Clementine's parents."

"What?" I gasped.

"That's when Alpha Lukas and Luna Clementine met, during the last big rogue attack. The rogues killed a bunch of humans, including Luna Clementine's parents. Her life was threatened and Alpha Lukas saved her." Matti explained. Nova nodded, confirming her parents' story.

"Before that, the last rogue attack killed my grandparents, Dad's parents, and nearly wiped out the entire pack. Since then, Dad made sure that the pack was trained to handle any and all attacks and my brothers continued that tradition." Nova said,

"So, why are they attacking now?" I asked and the girls shook their heads.

"No idea." Annie said, "But, I'm sure everyone will be fine. The pack is well prepared." She smiled at me encouragingly but I had this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"Harlie, tell us if you feel anything, okay?" Nova said, her eyes snapping in my direction.

"What do you mean?"

"Even though you four haven't completed the mating process yet, you'll still be able to feel if anything happens to them." Nova explained, her eyes pinched together in concern.

"Wait, really?" I was in shock.

"Yes." Nova nodded quickly, "So, please tell me if you feel anything wrong with my brothers."

Silence fell over the car for what seemed like hours. It felt like an icy hand was gripping my heart as we waited for news. I realized that I was terrified about feeling something that would indicate the brothers were in danger and it took me by surprise to know that I had any feelings at all about their safety.

Finally, there was news. Nova's eyes glazed over and then she was smiling.

"The attack is over. We lost no one and the Alphas are fine." She grinned and the girls cheered.

I felt a wave of relief rush over me and it was like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Waylon opened the car door and delivered the same news.

"We're heading back to the pack now. Luna, the Alphas need you." Waylon said as he hopped back into the driver's seat.

I nodded, biting the inside of my cheek. I was afraid to say anything, afraid of what would come out of my mouth as my throat thickened. Kori reached across the car and grabbed my hand,

"The Alphas are okay, Harlie, all of our mates are okay." She smiled, rubbing her thumb across my knuckles.

"I don't understand." I gasped, my breath catching in my throat.