When the Stars Align

Chapter 16

North squeezed Silas' knee as he tried to remain calm. Hell, at this point he was tempted to tell Raven to drive like a fucking Russian instead of obeying the laws. He needed to find his brother and Diana right fucking now.

"Just try not to get too mad," Luke warned through the link.

"He just warned me not to get mad," North mumbled as Silas rubbed his thumb back and forth on the top of North's jeans. "Holy fucking shit," North gasped as his sight blurred then changed before him. He was no longer in the car.

"What?" Gabe asked anxiously. "What do you see, North?"

"There's cement everywhere," North mumbled. "Cages on top of cages. Animals everywhere. Fuck they are so skinny. The cages are too small, they can't shift and their mouths are muzzled. Some have dried blood on them. At least it looks like they do. Luke's paws have blood on them but I think that's Diana's. There's mud on the floor and it's dark. There's a single lightbulb swaying, it looks like a basement. He's right, I can't see a way out besides that one door the hunters use."

"North, we have trackers in us," Luke's voice filled his head. "Do you think–"

"Corey, Vic," North growled, "trackers."

"On it," Corey and Victor said with much enthusiasm now that they finally had something to focus on instead of the blind searches they have been doing.

"They are on it, Luke," North replied back to his brother. "That is a huge help."

"North," Luke whimpered as he turned his head to the door. "Don't react, Brother, don't. You'll give me away and I won't eat because it's drugged."

"What do you..." North trailed off as his vision blurred again. "Door...shit, Diana," he mumbled as his fingers found Silas' and squeezed. "Blood, shit blood, limp, so fucking skinny, ribs, shit, shit, shit. Burned fur, crying. Fucking hell, Doc," North's voice cracked.

"Going to try and ask her to link," Luke's voice trembled. North watched as his brother's fox paw gently slid under the cheetah's paw. North watched the tip of the fox's nose to brush the paw then the red tongue swiped over the fur and a brief flash of jealousy swept through them before fury consumed him.

"That is barely enough for a fucking toddler," North growled. "And it's drugged! It looks like fucking slops for pigs!"

"I kill them," Raven growled, "I professional Russian!"

"Just don't kill the leader," Owen nodded, "we need them for answers."

"Anyone else, have fun with," Axel nodded as well.

"North?" Luke's voice filtered back into his mind.

"Luke?" North sent through the link while also speaking it.

"Diana, this is my brother North," Luke's voice filled North's mind.

"Hello, Diana," North sent back and said gently, startling everyone that was in the vehicles. .

"Hello," A soft voice replied back. Her tone was filled with nervousness and anxiety and that made North let out a low growl. "You're really my penpals?"

North let slip a small smile, causing everyone to look at him confused. "Yes, Baby," North let slip both through the link and with his words. It was already a habit that he knew deep down he would continue until she was safe in his arms along with his brother. "We are your penpals and we are on our way. We will find you and all your friends, I mean family, and get all of you out of that hellhole, I promise. Corey and Victor are looking for your father too to let him know that we've found you and are bringing you home real soon."

"How about we try something, Sweetheart?" Luke spoke gently. "Why don't you play 21 questions with North now? He can tell you all about our family."

"You?" she asked nervously.

"I'm going to rest so when our family arrives I can help get everyone out of here like I promised," Luke said honestly.

"We're not getting out of here," She sighed in defeat. "Not worth the punishment when caught," her voice sounds so broken. North and Luke had to bite their tongues as they watched her shiver as memories filled her head.

The thing she didn't realize was that when she formed the link with Luke he was able to see into her mind as well, which he already knew about when he could hear her thoughts, but now North could as well. 'The spiked canes and unlimited time with Master to do with as he pleases with all his toys is not worth it. Last punishment for leaving almost broke me, I can't again. Must be good to keep friends safe.'

"What the fuck?" Luke and North said through a separate link for just each other at the same time. "Fuck!"

"What?" Multiple men asked at once, even more concern and worry filled the vehicles as the build of fury increased as well.

North cleared his throat then relied back what the Taylor brothers heard. Various curses filled the air as their minds spiraled deeper into darkness.

"Baby," North was pretty sure his jaw would crack any moment now from how tight it was clenched. "Please, please try and trust me and Luke. We are coming and we will find you. We'll get you and all your friends out of there as soon as we can. I know it's hard for you to believe but I promise you we're coming and we will get you out of there, all your friends too. I never break my promises, Baby, and I'm not going to start now. Besides, I have to show you my tattoos. Do you remember, Baby?"

"Tattoos?" She sent back timidly. "You...you have tattoos on...on arms. Pieces of Greece...stars....wolf...moon."

"That's right, Baby," North nodded. "And I promised one more thing, do you remember?"

"She's on the verge of passing out North," Luke sent back. "She's so hurt."

"We're coming Luke," North growled. "Baby, do you remember?"

"You all promised," she sighed tiredly, "one day I brave enough...meet, you show me and...and...and surprise."

"That's right," North nodded as his grip on Silas tightened so much his knuckles were now white. "We all have a big surprise for you but you have to stay strong, okay? Stay with Luke and stay strong until we get there. Just keep being brave a little longer and then you won't have to be brave any more unless you want to, okay? Can you do that for us, Baby Girl?"

North watched through Luke's eyes as her fur shook showing her ragged breathing. North told the group "North, try and see if you can link with Luke and send him some of your health, like how Brandon and Corey take each other's pain after training. You're brothers, you might be able to take some of his pain and send your strength. If it's possible, then maybe Luke can just maybe take some of her pain and lend her some of your health. If it works, just maybe each of us and transfer ours to her as well. We can at least try."

"Why?" She sent back scared and confused. "Why...name?"

"Because you're my Baby Girl," North admitted. "I know Luke's been calling you his cupcake, well you once told me that you wanted the love your parents had. Your dream was to be special to someone and when I thought we lost you, I swore I would never have someone so special in my life again besides my family. Now that we've found you again, now that I know you just didn't walk away from us, I'm never letting you go again. You're my special person, you're my Baby Girl."

He watched as her fur shook, "My...my Star."

"Yes I am," North swore. "Now can you keep being brave for us, Baby Girl?"

She lifted her head and dropped it back down on top of Luke's fox paw. "Try."