Unwavering devotion [Complete, 18+]

CHAPTER 19: RECONNECT

THE SUN ROSE SLOWLY IN THE SKY JUST AS THE LAST OF THE BODIES WERE carried inside, a separate room for those no longer with us. The numbers were too great and still it was increasing with those who did not make it through the night but thankfully it seemed that no more would die, at least from last night anyway. The way tensions were brewing I was doing all I could to keep the peace: the shower I was currently taking being the first time I was alone. The blood and dirt coloured the water at the shower basin as I tried to think clearly. Towelling off I grabbed the set the clothes laid out for me and then searched for Nikki. I found her eventually sitting on the front steps, arms wrapped her knees. Sitting down beside her I waited for her to speak.

"What's going to happen, Jasey?" I sighed not knowing the answer to the question. She elbowed me in the side, adding: "Oh mighty Alpha."

Chuckling, she succeeded in shaking the frown from my face.

"I honestly don't know Nikki. I certainly didn't expect to be Alpha, I just hope I can live up to it...Will you stay?" I asked, beyond nervous for the answer.

"Of course Jasey, only if I can keep calling you that though."

Laughing I pulled her into my side, "of course Nikki. Of course you can. Um can you do me a favour though?"

"Of course, what do you need?"

"Can you please track my mate and the others and bring them back here? Grab anyone you wish to help but please be as swift as you can," a note of desperation creeping into my voice as I longed for my mate in this chaos that was my life.

"Of course, I'll be swifter on my own and doubt worry I'll hide if I come across anyone unfriendly. I'll be back soon just keep it together brother after all you're Alpha now."

Leaping to her feet she messed up my hair and ran into the woods before I could stop her. I called out but she didn't stop or even slow down, just raised her hand in a wave as she disappeared from view. I shook my head but secretly I was glad that someone was treating me as a person rather than an Alpha. It reminded me of my dad but I did not know how I could ever live up to him. Angered shouts interrupted the quiet moment and I hurried towards the sounds to discover a group nearly at blows.

"What's going on here?" the noise continued to escalate and I growled "quiet."

The room succumbed to silence and I stepped between the two which seemed to be the main instigators. The one on my right seemed to be the most irate, a vein pulsing in his forehead and going by the marks on his wrists still healing he was one of the ones who were imprisoned. His fists clenched and unclenched as he faced up the still smirking dirty blonde.

"Do I have to ask again?" I raised my eyebrow and when they both started, I interrupted before it turned into an argument yet again. "One at a time, I shall listen to both. The rest of you may leave." Only some did indeed leave, reducing the audience a little though it would have to do. When neither began, I intervened asking for names to get started.

"Ronan," he said proudly, imprisonment seemingly to have done nothing to decrease the fight within.

"Isaac," added the blonde. He inclined his head slightly to the side, smiling as if enjoying the moment.

My instincts were not liking this at all, though I tried not to let my bias effect the current situation as I listened to them both present their view. My feet were aching by the time I got Ronan to stand down. He wasn't happy that was very apparent but at least he wasn't about to go to blows. I could perfectly understand where he was coming from and I highly doubted I would've reacted any differently if it had been me that was repeatedly beaten and enslaved. Isaac did nothing to repute his claims and just answered "they were my orders. I had no choice."